Akira Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Akira – Meaning: bright, clear-minded (meaning depends on the kanji used) – Origin: Japanese – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: ah-KEER-uh

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Akira is a Japanese name given to both boys and girls, pronounced ah-KEER-uh. Depending on the kanji used to write it, it can carry the meaning bright, clear-minded. It's a modern pick with a worldly feel for parents drawn to names that work across genders and borders.

Meaning & Origin of Akira

Meaning: Bright, clear-minded (meaning depends on the kanji used).

Origin: Japanese.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Akira

Phonetic: ah-KEER-uh   IPA: /ɑːˈkɪərə/

Popularity of Akira

Akira hit its U.S. high point in 2008, ranking #707 with 424 babies given the name that year; by 2024 it had cooled to #955, with 272 babies named Akira.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1913–2024.

Make Akira Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Akira, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Hikari
• Hina
• Rei
• Ren
• Yuki
• Aiko

FAQ

What does the name Akira mean?

Bright, clear-minded (meaning depends on the kanji used). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Akira)

How do you pronounce Akira?

Akira is pronounced ah-KEER-uh (IPA: /ɑːˈkɪərə/).

Is Akira a popular name right now?

Akira peaked at #707 in 2008 and is ranked #955 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1913–2024.)

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