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Hikari

Girl name · Japanese

Meaninglight · Japanese

Hikari is a Japanese girl name meaning “light”. 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?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Hikari has the name Ari hiding inside it.
  • Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Hikari would score 13 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
  • GenerationHikari is having its moment right now. Most Hikaris are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Hikari would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 200,000 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryHikari first shows up in US birth records in 1993, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 32 years since.
Happy baby lying on a soft blanket
hello, little Hikari

US births per million girls, 1993–2025

0612199320002025

Similar names

Unisex name: AmariUnisex name: KamariUnisex name: AriUnisex name: AkariUnisex name: JamariGirl name: Azari
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Hikari

Hikari is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “light”. 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:Japanese names

More Japanese girl names

Questions about the name Hikari

What does the name Hikari mean?

Hikari means “light” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “light” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Eleanor (“possibly light”), Ellie (“possibly light”), Lucy (“light”) and Lainey (“possibly light”).

What is the origin of the name Hikari?

Hikari is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).

Is Hikari a boy or girl name?

Hikari is a girl name. In 2025, 8 US girls were named Hikari.

How popular is the name Hikari?

Hikari ranked #10,917 for US girls in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 2021, when it reached #6,174. Over the last five years it has slipped 3,358 places.

What names are similar to Hikari?

If you like Hikari, you might also like Eleanor, Ellie, Lucy and Lainey.

What should I know before naming my baby Hikari?

Hikari is a Japanese girl name meaning “light”. 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.