What does Sakura mean?
Sakura means “cherry blossom,” Japan’s emblematic spring flower; other kanji give other senses.
What does Yumi mean?
Yumi is written variously as “reason + beauty” or with the kanji for an archery bow.
Sakura vs Yumi
Which is more popular?
Sakura is more popular than Yumi today: about 58 US babies were given the name Sakura in 2025, compared with 55 named Yumi.
| Sakura | Yumi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Cherry blossom | Beauty; archery bow |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | sah-KOO-rah | YOO-mee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1960 |
| Peak year | 2012 (87) | 2025 (55) |
| In 2025 | 58 | 55 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sakura
Yumi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sakura | Yumi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 322 | 261 |
| 2010s | 702 | 273 |
| 2000s | 595 | 160 |
| 1990s | 113 | 112 |
| 1980s | 41 | 107 |
| 1970s | 10 | 53 |
| 1960s | 0 | 56 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sakura or Yumi more popular?
Sakura is more popular than Yumi today: about 58 US babies were given the name Sakura in 2025, compared with 55 named Yumi.
What is the difference between Sakura and Yumi?
Sakura means Cherry blossom (Japanese origin), while Yumi means Beauty; archery bow (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Sakura or Yumi?
In US records, Sakura first appears in 1970 and Yumi in 1960, so Yumi has the longer recorded history.