光
ひかる
Documented interpretation
- ray
- light
Usage note
JMnedict records 光 read ひかる as a female given name and surname; Tamahiyo also documents the same combination as a boys' name example.
reviewedunisex
光
Hikaru Japanese Name
ひかる · ヒカル
JMnedict gives female given-name attestation for 光・ひかる, while a current Tamahiyo naming article lists it as a boys’ example. The unisex label records both sources without estimating frequency.
Meaning overview
These interpretations belong to this reviewed name record. Variant-specific explanations appear separately below.
- 光 has the dictionary glosses “ray” and “light”; these are literal character glosses rather than a guaranteed naming intention.
lightbrightnesssingle-kanji
Name facts
This record has passed the site's publication quality gate.
- Hiragana
- ひかる
- Katakana
- ヒカル
- Pronunciation
- hee-kah-roo
- Gender association
- Unisex
- Usage status
- Usage uncertain
- Origin
- Japanese given name; this record covers 光 read ひかる.
- Mora count
- 3
- Record status
- Reviewed
- Last reviewed
- July 25, 2026
Naturalness note
JMnedict gives female given-name attestation for 光・ひかる, while a current Tamahiyo naming article lists it as a boys’ example. The unisex label records both sources without estimating frequency.
Kanji variants
Each spelling is documented separately so its gloss and usage note are not mixed with another variant.
high confidence
Editorial notes
Cultural context
- 光 has several name readings and can occur in surnames. This page covers its use as the given name ひかる.
Pronunciation notes
- Hikaru has three mora, ひ・か・る; the English guide is approximate.
Common misunderstandings
- The character gloss “light” is not evidence of a particular bearer’s intended name story.
Explore by meaning
These links are based on the exact reviewed kanji spelling on this page, not on romanization alone.
Related names
Continue with other reviewed records connected by the editorial data.
Sources and evidence limits
Sources support specific fields, not every possible claim about the name. Their limitations remain visible here.
- ENAMDICT/JMnedict Japanese Proper Names Dictionary
Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group · JA,EN · accessed Jul 25, 2026
Fields supported on this page
Hiragana, Romaji, Genders, Kanji Variants 0 reading, Is Real Name, Origin
The exact 光 [ひかる] entry includes a female given-name classification.
Source limitation
Dictionary inclusion does not measure current frequency, guarantee a reading for every bearer, or establish legal acceptance of a new registration.
- KANJIDIC Project
Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group · JA,EN · accessed Jul 25, 2026
Fields supported on this page
Kanji Variants 0 meanings, Meanings, Themes
Only the individual character glosses are used.
Source limitation
Character glosses are not whole-name translations and do not prove a parent's intended meaning.
- 「光」を使った名前の漢字の意味と読み、男女別の実例も
Benesse Corporation (たまひよ) · JA · accessed Jul 25, 2026
Fields supported on this page
Genders, Naturalness Note
The article lists 光・ひかる as a boys’ name example; it is not used as frequency evidence.
Source limitation
An editorial example is not a population-frequency estimate.