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The short answer
Akira is a feminine name used in Japanese. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From Japanese 昭 (akira) meaning ‘bright’, 明 (akira) meaning ‘bright’ or 亮 (akira) meaning ‘clear’. Other kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name." It ranked #983 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from Japanese 昭 (akira) meaning ‘bright’, 明 (akira) meaning ‘bright’ or 亮 (akira) meaning ‘clear’. Other kanji with the same pronunciation can also form this name. The entry lists its usage as Japanese.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Akira ranked #983 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #983 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Japanese) and that sit near Akira in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Akira mean?
Behind the Name does not give Akira a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: from Japanese 昭.
Is Akira a popular name?
Akira ranked #983 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Akira a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Akira appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine & feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Akira — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
