Hina

At a Glance

Meaning

Sun, light

Origin

Japanese; also Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

HEE-nahListen

Hina is a clean, modern girl's name with a worldly feel, pronounced HEE-nah. In its Japanese sense it means sun or light, and the name also shows up in Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian traditions. You may have read that it means 'doll,' but that's a mix-up with a different kanji (雛) used in hina-ningyo dolls; the Japanese meaning is sun, light.

Meaning & Origin of Hina

Meaning: Sun, light.

Origin: Japanese; also Hawaiian/Polynesian and South Asian.

A common claim: Often said to mean 'sunshine' and/or 'doll' (the latter tied to the Hinamatsuri doll festival). Actually: 'Sunshine' fits the Japanese sense (sun, light), but 'doll' isn't accurate — that's likely confusion with a different kanji (雛), used in hina-ningyo dolls.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Hina

Popularity of Hina

Hina ranked #4687 in the U.S. in 2024, with 29 babies given the name. Its highest ranking in the data, which runs from 1973 to 2024, was #4574 in 1995, when 22 babies were named Hina.

Names Like Hina

These names share Hina’s style, era or origin.

• Hikari
• Airi
• Akari
• Akira
• Amayah
• Emi

FAQ

What does the name Hina mean?

Sun, light. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Hina?

Hina is pronounced HEE-nah (IPA: /ˈhiːnə/).

Is Hina a popular name right now?

Hina is near its all-time peak (#4574 in 1995), ranked #4687 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1973–2024.)

Make Hina Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Hina, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.