Akane

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-KAH-neh /ɑˈkɑ.nɛ/Medium

Meaning: Akane is a Japanese given name meaning 'deep red' — the word names the madder plant, whose roots give a rich red dye, and by extension the red of a sunset sky. It is a long-established girls' name in Japan, which we note respectfully.Medium

In 30 seconds: A Japanese name with a color at its heart: Akane means 'deep red' — the madder plant and the red of a sunset (said 'ah-KAH-neh').

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Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningAkane is a Japanese given name meaning 'deep red' — the word names the madder plant, whose roots give a rich red dye, and by extension the red of a sunset sky. It is a long-established girls' name in Japan, which we note respectfully.

U.S. rank (2024)#13493 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1998

Total births (all-time)≈ 345

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Akane is an established Japanese girls' name meaning 'deep red'. The word names akane, the madder plant, whose roots yield one of the oldest red dyes in East Asia; poets have long used it for the red of sunset and of dawn, and it appears in classical Japanese verse as a pillow-word. It is a heritage name in Japan, used with care and respect (said 'ah-KAH-neh').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., while remaining familiar in Japan. Rare here, warm, and rooted.

Did you know? Akane names the madder plant, whose roots have dyed cloth deep red in Japan for centuries; the same word is used for the flushed red of an evening sky (said 'ah-KAH-neh').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Akane — Japanese 'deep red'; madder plant (Rubia); classical poetic use

Variations

AkanehAkani

Nicknames

AkaKaneAne

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Akane mean?

Akane is Japanese for 'deep red' — the madder plant that yields red dye, and the red of a sunset sky.

How do you pronounce Akane?

It's said ah-KAH-neh /ɑˈkɑ.nɛ/ — three syllables, with a clear final 'eh'; it is not 'a-CANE'.

Is Akane a boy or girl name?

Akane is used as a girl's name in Japan and elsewhere.

How popular is Akane?

Akane is rare in the U.S., though it is a familiar name in Japan.