Haruna
Girl name · African · Japanese
Meaningoften spring greens · Japanese
Haruna is an African and Japanese girl name often meaning “spring greens”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationHaruna peaked in 1995, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Haruna you'd meet today is about 30 years old.
- HistoryHaruna first shows up in US birth records in 1991, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 34 years since.
US births per million girls, 1991–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Haruna
Haruna is a girl name of African and Japanese origin meaning “often spring greens”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African namesJapanese names
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Unisex name: Zuri · beautiful
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Girl name: Imani · faith
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Luisa · famous warrior
Questions about the name Haruna
What does the name Haruna mean?
Haruna means “often spring greens” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Tasneem (“spring in paradise”), Tasnim (“spring in paradise”), Caldwell (“cold spring”) and Izumi (“spring, fountain”).
What is the origin of the name Haruna?
Haruna is African and Japanese in origin. Names often travel between languages and cultures, which is why Haruna turns up in more than one tradition. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).
Is Haruna a boy or girl name?
Haruna is a girl name.
How popular is the name Haruna?
Haruna is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2009. It peaked at #7,514 in 1995, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Haruna?
If you like Haruna, you might also like Tasneem, Tasnim, Caldwell and Izumi.
What should I know before naming my baby Haruna?
Haruna is an African and Japanese girl name often meaning “spring greens”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.