Aki

♂ Boy

Pronounced AH-kee /ˈɑ.ki/Medium

Meaning: From Japanese aki, 'autumn' or 'bright, sparkle, clear'; also a Finnish short form of Joakim ('the Lord will raise up', Hebrew); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Autumn; bright: Aki is Japanese for 'autumn' or 'bright'. Soft, crisp, and warm (said 'AH-kee').

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Origin LowJapanese, Finnish

MeaningFrom Japanese aki, 'autumn' or 'bright, sparkle, clear'; also a Finnish short form of Joakim ('the Lord will raise up', Hebrew); routes layered

U.S. rank (2024)#5885 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births15 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 365

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

Aki comes from Japanese aki, variously 'autumn' or 'bright, sparkling, clear' (depending on the kanji) — and is also a Finnish short form of Joakim (Joachim), from Hebrew, 'the Lord will raise up' (routes layered, which we note). A soft, crisp, cross-cultural name, used for both sexes, here for boys (said 'AH-kee'; nickname Aki).

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese and Finnish families. Rare, autumn-or-bright at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Aki means 'autumn' or 'bright, sparkling, clear' in Japanese (depending on the characters) — and is also a Finnish short form of Joakim — a soft, crisp name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'AH-kee').

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Aki — routes layered

Variations

AkiraAkitoAkki

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Aki…

Akira— a kin Aki- Japanese boys' name

Kenji— a fellow Japanese boys' name

Ren— a companion short Japanese boys' name

Ami— shares Aki's Japanese roots

Koi— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Aki mean?

Aki is Japanese for 'autumn' or 'bright, sparkling'; it is also a Finnish name. The routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Aki?

It's said AH-kee /ˈɑ.ki/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Aki a boy or girl name?

Aki is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Aki?

Aki is a rare name in the U.S.