Akira
Akira was the 983rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 257 babies. Its best year was 2008, when it ranked 707th with 424 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Akira in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning bright, clear · Japanese
Say it uh-KEER-uh /əˈkɪrə/
- Rank in 2025
- #983 girls, up 169 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 257girls
- Girls and boys
- 83% girls, 17% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2008424 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,837babies recorded
What does the name Akira mean?
Akira is a Japanese name that can be written with several different kanji, so its meaning depends on the characters chosen. A common writing is 明, the character for 'bright, clear', and Wiktionary explains this name as a noun formed from the adjective akiraka 'clear, evident'. Wikipedia notes that it is mainly a boys' name in Japan; in the US it is now given more often to girls.
明 (Japanese, “bright, clear”)
How sure is this? Probable. Other kanji are possible; the meaning given is for the common writing 明.
Pronunciation: Japanese: AH-kee-rah, with even stress and a light tapped r.
See also: Japanese names, names that mean light.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Akira', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry '明' (Japanese section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Akira (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (usage history only), US Social Security Administration
- CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (cmudict), Carnegie Mellon University
Akira popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #983 | #2,539 | 257 | 52 |
| 2020 | #1,152 | #2,689 | 205 | 46 |
| 2010 | #835 | #3,242 | 322 | 34 |
| 2000 | #1,203 | #2,526 | 165 | 37 |
| 1990 | #2,523 | #3,469 | 47 | 17 |
| 1980 | #9,117 | #5,540 | 6 | 6 |
| 1970 | — | #3,842 | — | 7 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | #1,755 | — | 18 |
| 1920 | — | #1,748 | — | 20 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Akira, counting every spelling?
Akira is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #910 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #983 for Akira on its own. Together these spellings went to 273 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akira | 257 | #983 | 1,173 |
| Akyra | 9 | #10,136 | 49 |
| Akirah | 7 | #11,983 | 44 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Akira?
257 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Akira (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Akira born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 33 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Akira.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Akira?
About 7,700 people born in the US named Akira are alive today, with a median age of 16; half are between 9 and 23. That makes Akira mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Akira by state
How common Akira was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Washington (1.9×), Arizona (1.9×), Georgia (1.6×), Virginia (1.6×). In 25 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Akira: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Akira, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Akira · Sibling names for Akira
Questions about the name Akira
What does Akira mean?
Akira means “bright, clear” (Japanese origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Akira?
Akira was the 983rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 257 babies. Its best year was 2008, when it ranked 707th with 424 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Akira in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Akira a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 83% girls, 17% boys given the name Akira in the US.
Where is Akira most popular?
In 2021–2025, Akira was most common in Washington (0.28 per 1,000 girls), followed by Arizona and Nevada.