Hikari as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Hikari

What is the meaning of the name Hikari ?

The baby name Hikari is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /hiˈka.ri/ (hee-KAH-ree); Japanese IPA: [çi̥kaɾi].

Hikari is Japanese in Origin.

Hikari is a Japanese given name derived from the native noun hikari, “light” or “radiance,” ultimately from the verb hikar- “to shine.” Pronounced hee-kah-ree, it is most commonly written with the kanji 光, though purely phonetic forms ひかり (hiragana) and ヒカリ (katakana) are also used. Decorative feminine spellings such as 妃香里 or 日香里 occur, each adding nuances like “fragrance” or “sun.”

Used as a unisex name, Hikari has appeared in Japan for decades and rose in visibility from the late 20th century alongside nature-themed names and pop-culture exposure. It is now more common for girls, while the closely related Hikaru (光 or 輝) remains strongly unisex. Diminutives include Hika; abroad, Kari is sometimes used as a nickname. Related choices with similar meanings include Hikaru (“to shine”) and Akari (“brightness”). Notable bearers range from composer Hikari Ōe to numerous anime and manga characters.