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Home › Baby Names Directory › Akira

Akira

♂ Boy

Pronounced ak-EER-a /æk.ˈir.æ/Medium

Meaning: BrightMedium

In 30 seconds: Akira is a Japanese boy's name meaning 'bright.'
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Origin MediumJapanese
MeaningBright
U.S. rank (2025)#2539 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births52 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1927
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,020

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419132025

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

Akira is a Japanese name carrying the meaning 'bright,' and depending on the characters chosen it can also convey clarity or intelligence. It is one of the more familiar Japanese given names internationally, helped by its clean sound. The same name is used for both boys and girls in Japan.

Three light syllables give Akira a quick, luminous feel that travels well across languages. Notable bearers include the chemists Akira Suzuki and Akira Yoshino, Nobel laureates in 2010 and 2019.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Akira is 'bright', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Akira — 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

  • ★Akira Suzuki (1930–present)
    Japanese chemist, 2010 Nobel laureate for Suzuki coupling.
  • ★Akira Yoshino (1948–present)
    Japanese chemist, 2019 Nobel laureate for lithium-ion battery.

If you like Akira…

Kenji— A familiar Japanese boy's name in the same cultural register as Akira.
Ren— A short Japanese name that pairs naturally with Akira's clean, internationally easy sound.
Hiro— A Japanese boy's name with a comparably bright, open feel to Akira.
Sora— lands in the same popularity range
Akari— another nature pick

Explore names like Akira

By themeunisexnaturejapanese
By meaningLight

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Akira mean?

Akira is usually explained as meaning 'bright' and is most often linked with Japanese tradition.

How do you pronounce Akira?

It's commonly said ak-EER-a /æk.ˈir.æ/.

Is Akira a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Akira?

In 2024, Akira ranked #2499 in the U.S. for boys, with 54 births recorded.

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