Japanese names that mean sun
Boy and girl names built on 陽, 日 and 旭, the kanji of the sun and sunshine, and how each one is used today.
陽 hi, haru, hina: sun旭 asahi: rising sunVery common today
The sun is one of the brightest threads running through modern Japanese names. 陽 means sun or sunshine and sits in some of the most popular names of the last twenty years: Haruto, Hinata and Himari all use it. It has several readings in names, so the same kanji gives haru, hina, hi and yō depending on what comes next.
Other sun kanji have their own shades. 旭 is the rising sun, and 朝陽 (Asahi) spells out the morning sun in full. 日 means sun and day, and in 日向 (Hinata) it describes a sunny spot. Parents choose these names for warmth and brightness, and they work for boys and girls alike.
On this page
The kanji behind sun names
| Kanji | Readings | Meaning | In names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 陽 | ひ, よう | sun, sunshine | 40 ranked names |
| 日 | ひ, び, か, にち | sun, day | 7 ranked names |
| 旭 | あさひ, きょく | rising sun | 2 ranked names |
| 晃 | あきらか, こう | clear, bright | 1 ranked name |
| 昊 | そら, こう | summer sky | 1 ranked name |
Popular names with a sun kanji
Spellings that have made Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
Sun names of real people
Given names with a sun kanji carried by notable Japanese people. The number shows how many notable people share each one.
陽耶
Haruya陽 sun + 耶 (used for its sound
Boy1 personMore sun names
Rarer spellings found in Japanese name records. In each one the sun kanji keeps its own reading, so the meaning is really there, not just the sound.
Last names with a sun meaning
Questions
What is the most popular Japanese name that means sun?
Names written with 陽 lead the way. Haruto (陽翔), Himari (陽葵) and Hinata (陽向) have all been among the most popular names in Japan in recent years.
Is Hinata a boy or girl name?
Both. Hinata (日向 or 陽向) means a sunny place and is used for boys and girls, which is why it ranks in both lists.