Akira is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Akira means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Akira across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Akira has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Akira is a unisex name of Japanese origin meaning “bright, clear”. A Japanese name used for both sexes.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 9,837 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 778 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 17 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Akira per year, United States (1913 to 2025). United States peaked in 2008 (453/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2015 (60/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2015 (5/yr).
Akira is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2008, when it ranked #1,233 nationally (given to 482 babies that year).
Akari · Yakira · Akyra · Akhari · Akirah · Ahkari · Akeria · Akeira
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →