Reika
A feminine Japanese name meaning "beautiful fragrance" or "lovely song".
Name Census estimates that about 153 living Americans carry the first name Reika. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Reika today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reika births was 2011 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reika. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
153
~ 1 in 2,240,224 Americans
Peak year
2011
11 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,893
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Reika: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Reika from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 57 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Reika remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reika by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Reika during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Reika
The given name Reika has its origins in the Japanese language. It is a feminine name that combines the Japanese words "rei" meaning "blessed" or "spiritual," and "ka" meaning "fragrance" or "flower." Historically, the name Reika was used to describe a woman who possessed a blessed or spiritual aura, with a delicate and fragrant nature akin to a flower.
The earliest recorded use of the name Reika dates back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. During this time, the name appeared in various literary works and historical records, often associated with women of noble or aristocratic backgrounds.
One of the earliest known references to the name Reika can be found in the classical Japanese literature work, "The Tale of Genji," written by Murasaki Shikibu around the early 11th century. In this epic novel, Reika is mentioned as the name of a minor character, further solidifying the name's existence during the Heian period.
Throughout Japanese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Reika. One of the earliest prominent figures was Reika Tsubaki (1510-1590), a Buddhist nun and calligrapher during the Azuchi-Momoyama period. She was known for her exceptional calligraphic skills and her contributions to the promotion of Zen Buddhism.
Another historically significant figure was Reika Kuwahara (1885-1951), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Japan during the Meiji and Taisho eras. She founded the Reika Girls' School in Tokyo and played a pivotal role in advancing women's education and empowerment in the early 20th century.
In the realm of Japanese arts, Reika Kuze (1942-present) is a renowned actress and dancer who has made significant contributions to the traditional Nihon Buyo dance form. Her performances have garnered critical acclaim both in Japan and internationally, earning her recognition as a Living National Treasure.
Reika Yamada (1951-present) is a notable figure in the world of Japanese literature. She is an acclaimed author and poet, known for her poignant works that explore themes of identity, memory, and the human condition. Her literary achievements have earned her numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Akutagawa Prize.
Lastly, Reika Ando (1970-present) is a distinguished Japanese scientist and astronaut. She has participated in multiple space missions, including serving as a crew member on the International Space Station. Reika Ando's accomplishments have inspired generations of young women in Japan and around the world to pursue careers in science and space exploration.
People
Reika + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reika as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Reika: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reika?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 153 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reika going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,240,224 US residents.
Is Reika a common name?
We classify Reika as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 155 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reika most popular?
The single biggest year for Reika was 2011, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reika is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Reika a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Reika in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.