Akira
Origin: Japanese: あきら (Akira)
Gender: Masculine; occasionally feminine in Japan, now mainly feminine in the Western world
Meaning: Varies according to the kanji used.
Common kanji: 明, 亮, 朗, 彰, 晶, etc.
Jap: AH-KYEE-RAH; English: ah-KEE-rah
Akira is a Japanese unisex name, though it has traditionally been more commonly used for males. Its meaning depends on the kanji used to write it. Common forms include 昭 (akira), meaning “bright,” 明 (akira), meaning “bright” or “clear,” and 亮 (akira), meaning “clear.” Numerous other kanji and kanji combinations are possible, which can alter the meaning of the name.
In Japan, Akira was particularly associated with boys during the early to mid-20th century. A famous bearer was acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998), whose given name was written 明.
Outside Japan, the name gained considerable exposure through Akira, the influential manga series written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Ōtomo. The manga began serialization in Japan in 1982 and ran until 1990. An English-language edition was introduced to the United States in 1988 by Epic Comics, an imprint of Marvel Comics. The manga and its celebrated 1988 animated film adaptation helped introduce Akira to a much larger Western audience.
Akira is also the name of an American women's fashion retailer founded in Chicago in 2002. Despite its resemblance to the Japanese given name, the company's name was reportedly derived from the name of co-founder Erikka Wang - essentially “Erikka” spelled backward and modified slightly. The company has since expanded to more than 40 locations across the United States.
In the United States, Akira made a brief appearance among the Top 1,000 names for boys in 1927, ranking #937, when 54 boys received the name. Its early American use was likely influenced by Japanese immigration. Whereas in Brazil, it appeared among the Top 1000 Most Popular Males name in 1937, coming in at #736, also influenced by Japanese immigration.
Akira later became more established as a female name in the United States. It first entered the U.S. Top 1,000 Most Popular Female Names in 2002, disappeared from the rankings for several years, and returned in 2006. As of 2025, Akira ranked #983 for girls in the United States, with 257 girls receiving the name that year. In England & Wales, Akira has occasionally appeared among the Top 1,000 female names, ranking #760 in 2015, #916 in 2016, and #941 in 2023.
Sources
https://www.behindthename.com/name/akira
https://beyondsakuraandhiroshi.wordpress.com/tag/akira/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_(given_name)
Source: Akira
