Akira Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Akira is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Akira?
Akira is spelled A-K-I-R-A. The name has 5 letters.
Akira at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Akira commonly means “bright” or “clear” in Japanese.
- Origin
- Akira is a Japanese given name that may derive from Japanese words meaning “bright” or “clear.”
- Pronunciation
- ah-kee-rah · 3 syllables
Akira Popularity in 2025
Rank#983
Recorded Births257
Rank#2,539
Recorded Births52
- Girls usage fell 31 places to #983 and recorded 17 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 37 places to #2,539 and recorded 2 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Akira Mean?
Akira commonly means “bright” or “clear” in Japanese.
Origin: Akira is a Japanese given name that may derive from Japanese words meaning “bright” or “clear.”
How Do You Pronounce Akira?
Pronunciationah-kee-rah
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Akira?
- History
- The name Akira has been used in Japanese culture, but specific historical usage details are not extensively documented.
Akira Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 257 | #983 |
| 2025 | Boys | 52 | #2,539 |
| 2024 | Girls | 274 | #952 |
| 2024 | Boys | 54 | #2,502 |
| 2023 | Girls | 248 | #1,018 |
| 2023 | Boys | 49 | #2,660 |
| 2022 | Girls | 190 | #1,259 |
| 2022 | Boys | 45 | #2,830 |
| 2021 | Girls | 204 | #1,191 |
| 2021 | Boys | 43 | #2,862 |
| 2020 | Girls | 205 | #1,152 |
| 2020 | Boys | 46 | #2,689 |
| 2019 | Girls | 210 | #1,145 |
| 2019 | Boys | 30 | #3,636 |
| 2018 | Girls | 215 | #1,135 |
| 2018 | Boys | 45 | #2,708 |
| 2017 | Girls | 251 | #1,030 |
| 2017 | Boys | 25 | #4,105 |
| 2016 | Girls | 261 | #1,012 |
| 2016 | Boys | 24 | #4,199 |
| 2015 | Girls | 260 | #1,026 |
| 2015 | Boys | 34 | #3,299 |
| 2014 | Girls | 233 | #1,092 |
| 2014 | Boys | 35 | #3,154 |
When Was Akira Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2008 · Girls
424 recorded births
National rank #707
2009 · Girls
345 recorded births
National rank #819
2007 · Girls
336 recorded births
National rank #845
2010 · Girls
322 recorded births
National rank #835
Where Akira Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| OK | #546 | 7 |
| AZ | #578 | 11 |
| MO | #589 | 9 |
| LA | #597 | 7 |
| CA | #731 | 42 |
| GA | #748 | 13 |
| NC | #780 | 12 |
| TN | #888 | 7 |