UK girl's name
Rika
A feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "bright" or "brilliant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 6 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2001 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Rika. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rika ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 girls were registered as Rika.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
6 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Rika mean?
The name Rika has its origins in several cultures and languages around the world. In Japanese, the name is derived from the word "riku," which means "land" or "shore." It is a popular feminine name in Japan and is often associated with qualities like strength, resilience, and a connection to nature.
In Russian, the name Rika is a diminutive form of the name Rikarda, which is derived from the Germanic name Richardis. This name has its roots in the Old German words "ric" (meaning "powerful" or "ruler") and "hard" (meaning "brave" or "hardy"). The name Rika in Russian is often seen as a strong and confident name.
In Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway, the name Rika is a variant of the name Rikke, which is a diminutive form of the Old Norse name Rikka. This name is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "rik," meaning "ruler" or "powerful."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rika can be found in the ancient Sanskrit text "Rigveda," where it was used as a feminine name. In this context, the name was associated with the concept of "knowledge" or "wisdom."
Historically, there have been several notable individuals with the name Rika. One of the most famous was Rika Zarai (1938-2020), a renowned Japanese actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career. Another notable figure was Rika Meshoulam (1954-2017), an Israeli painter and sculptor whose works were exhibited in galleries around the world.
In the realm of literature, Rika is the name of a character in the classic Japanese novel "The Tale of Genji," written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century. This work is considered one of the first novels ever written and is a seminal text in Japanese literature.
Other notable individuals with the name Rika include Rika Ishige (1906-1983), a Japanese author and poet who was honored with the prestigious Order of Culture award; Rika Dolven (born 1970), a Norwegian poet and author known for her experimental writing style; and Rika Usami (born 1984), a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rika over time
The chart below shows babies named Rika registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rika, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rika was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #2466 | 6 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rika
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rika in the UK right now?
In 2012, Rika was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Rika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rika?
A feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "bright" or "brilliant".
How many people are called Rika in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Rika across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.