Hiroaki
Meaningoften broad brightness · Japanese
Hiroaki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “broad brightness”. 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?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Hiroaki would score 14 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationHiroaki peaked in 1990, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Hiroaki you'd meet today is about 35 years old.
- HistoryHiroaki first shows up in US birth records in 1990, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 35 years since.
US births per million boys, 1990–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Hiroaki
Hiroaki is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often broad brightness”. 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 boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Hiroaki
What does the name Hiroaki mean?
Hiroaki means “often broad brightness” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Akari (“light, brightness”), Fumiaki (“often literary brightness”), Hideaki (“often excellent brightness”) and Kuniaki (“often country brightness”).
What is the origin of the name Hiroaki?
Hiroaki is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Hiroaki a boy or girl name?
Hiroaki is a boy name.
How popular is the name Hiroaki?
Hiroaki is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1997. It peaked at #6,415 in 1990, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Hiroaki?
If you like Hiroaki, you might also like Akari, Fumiaki, Hideaki and Kuniaki.
What should I know before naming my baby Hiroaki?
Hiroaki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “broad brightness”. 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.