Rika
Meaningoften pear flower · Japanese
Rika is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pear flower”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Rika and you get Kira. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationRika peaked in 1991, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Rika you'd meet today is about 34 years old.
- HistoryRika first shows up in US birth records in 1959, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 66 years since.
US births per million girls, 1959–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Rika
Rika is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often pear flower”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Rika
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Rika
What does the name Rika mean?
Rika means “often pear flower” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “flower” 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 Violet (“violet flower”), Lily (“lily flower”), Rose (“rose flower”) and Magnolia (“magnolia flower”).
What is the origin of the name Rika?
Rika is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Rika a boy or girl name?
Rika is a girl name.
How popular is the name Rika?
Rika is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2023. It peaked at #3,207 in 1991, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Rika?
If you like Rika, you might also like Rica, Ricka, Rikka, Violet and Lily. Rica is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Rika?
Rika is a Japanese girl name often meaning “pear flower”. 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 soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.