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Home › Baby Names Directory › Akai

Akai

♂ Boy

Pronounced AK-ay /ˈæk.eɪ/Medium

Meaning: Love, affectionMedium

In 30 seconds: Akai is a Japanese name given with the meaning 'love, affection'.
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Origin MediumJapanese
MeaningLove, affection
U.S. rank (2025)#1753 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births92 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,010

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319752025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Akai is recorded as a Japanese name meaning love and affection. Its run of open vowels gives it a soft, melodic sound that travels easily beyond Japan. The warm meaning suits its gentle, flowing shape.

British actor, dancer and musician Akai Osei, winner of the first series of 'Got to Dance', shows the name's reach into English-speaking use.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Akai is 'love, affection', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 62%
Behind the Name - Akai — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Akai Osei (1999–present)
    British actor, dancer and musician, winner of the first series of 'Got to Dance'.

If you like Akai…

Akira— A Japanese name sharing the Aka- opening and clear vowels.
Kai— Shares the -kai sound and an open, vowel-rich feel.
Hiro— Another short Japanese boy's name with a soft sound.
Ren— A brief Japanese name with the same understated style.

Explore names like Akai

By themeunisexjapanese
By meaningLove

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Akai mean?

Akai is usually explained as meaning 'love, affection' and is most often linked with Japanese tradition.

How do you pronounce Akai?

It's commonly said AK-ay /ˈæk.eɪ/.

Is Akai a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Akai is used as a boy name.

How popular is Akai?

In 2024, Akai ranked #2129 in the U.S. for boys, with 69 births recorded.

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