Rika
A girl's name of Japanese origin with 555 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Japanese.
Rika is a girl's baby name of Japanese origin, composed of the elements ri meaning 'jasmine' or 'logic' and ka meaning 'flower' or 'fragrance,' creating a name that evokes natural beauty and intellectual clarity in equal measure.
Rika is a clean, elegant Japanese name that works naturally in English-speaking contexts — just two syllables, open and bright. It has also been used in Scandinavian countries as a short form of Frederika, giving it a surprisingly wide cross-cultural reach.
EtymologyShow more
Rika is cataloged under the Japanese naming tradition. Japanese names are typically composed of kanji characters, each contributing meaning — the same pronunciation can carry entirely different meanings depending on the characters chosen.
In the U.S., Rika has been recorded as a girl's name since 1959, with 555 total births. Browse the Japanese names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Rika has 56+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1959.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 69 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 89 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 150 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 106 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 93 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 32 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 6 | — |
The Story of Rika
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1991, Rika is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Rika are most likely born between 1981 and 2001.
How rare is Rika?
With 555 total births on record, Rika remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1959, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1990s with 150 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Rika by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Rika per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1959–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | #17095 |
| 2020 | 5 | #17017 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13511 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13518 |
| 2017 | 5 | #17919 |
| 2016 | 6 | #15844 |
| 2015 | 11 | #10018 |
| 2013 | 6 | #16129 |
| 2012 | 9 | #12043 |
| 2011 | 11 | #10253 |
| 2010 | 7 | #14658 |
| 2009 | 14 | #8789 |
| 2007 | 6 | #17164 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9783 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12768 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11429 |
| 2003 | 9 | #11146 |
| 2002 | 14 | #7741 |
| 2001 | 9 | #10824 |
| 2000 | 8 | #11551 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rika a boy's or girl's name?
When was Rika most popular?
How popular is the name Rika?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1959–2023