Hikaru is a unisex Japanese given name, derived from the kanji characters 光 (hikari), meaning 'light'. It's often used for both boys and girls due to its versatility and simplicity. The name gained international recognition through popular culture, such as Hikaru Sulu from Star Trek or Hikaru no Go, a manga series about competitive go.
The name Hikaru experienced some popularity in the late twentieth century, with a peak of seven births in 1992, followed by six births in 1999 and five births in 2002, summing up to a total of eighteen children named Hikaru born during this period.