1The state of being liked or gaining attention from many people — widely favored, as with a popular product, person, or work.
あの俳優は最近ドラマで人気が急上昇している。
That actor's popularity has been rapidly rising thanks to a recent TV drama.
この店のパンケーキは行列ができるほど人気だ。
This shop's pancakes are so popular that people line up for them.
新しいスマホは発売前から人気を集めていた。
The new smartphone was already gaining popularity before it even went on sale.
子ども向けアニメの中でも特に人気があるキャラクターだ。
This is a character that's especially popular even among children's anime.
2Refers to the general mood or condition of something, most often the momentum or sentiment of a market (e.g., "market sentiment is rising").
このところ、円安を背景に輸出関連株の人気が高まっている。
Lately, against the backdrop of a weak yen, sentiment toward export-related stocks has been rising.
市場の人気は業績次第で大きく変わる。
Market sentiment can shift dramatically depending on business performance.