Akira
Borrowed from Japanese あきら (Akira).
Every Akira since 1913 — 9,837 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Akira
Akira is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #983 in 2025 with 257 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1913, 9,837 American babies have been named Akira — about 79% girls and 21% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2008, when 453 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Akira stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Akira year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 257 | #983 | 52 | #2,539 |
| 2024 | 274 | #952 | 54 | #2,504 |
| 2023 | 248 | #1,018 | 49 | #2,660 |
| 2022 | 190 | #1,259 | 45 | #2,830 |
| 2021 | 204 | #1,191 | 43 | #2,864 |
| 2020 | 205 | #1,152 | 46 | #2,689 |
| 2019 | 210 | #1,145 | 30 | #3,641 |
| 2018 | 215 | #1,135 | 45 | #2,711 |
| 2017 | 251 | #1,030 | 25 | #4,108 |
| 2016 | 261 | #1,014 | 24 | #4,202 |
| 2015 | 260 | #1,026 | 34 | #3,299 |
| 2014 | 233 | #1,092 | 35 | #3,154 |
| 2013 | 229 | #1,080 | 24 | #4,067 |
| 2012 | 265 | #958 | 27 | #3,809 |
| 2011 | 275 | #938 | 35 | #3,167 |
| 2010 | 322 | #835 | 34 | #3,242 |
| 2009 | 345 | #819 | 32 | #3,400 |
| 2008 | 424 | #707 | 29 | #3,649 |
| 2007 | 336 | #845 | 35 | #3,188 |
| 2006 | 270 | #970 | 37 | #2,981 |
| 2005 | 229 | #1,043 | 28 | #3,450 |
| 2004 | 199 | #1,144 | 45 | #2,453 |
| 2003 | 213 | #1,057 | 42 | #2,471 |
| 2002 | 242 | #923 | 45 | #2,295 |
| 2001 | 202 | #1,056 | 37 | #2,563 |
| 2000 | 165 | #1,203 | 37 | #2,526 |
| 1995 | 82 | #1,763 | 23 | #3,022 |
| 1990 | 47 | #2,523 | 17 | #3,469 |
| 1985 | 29 | #3,086 | 18 | #2,711 |
| 1980 | 6 | #9,117 | 6 | #5,540 |
| 1975 | 8 | #6,494 | 8 | #3,949 |
| 1970 | — | — | 7 | #3,842 |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | 10 | #2,396 |
| 1930 | — | — | 18 | #1,755 |
| 1925 | — | — | 29 | #1,360 |
| 1920 | — | — | 20 | #1,748 |
| 1915 | — | — | 14 | #1,969 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Akira
- Akira Kurosawa Film director · 1910–1998
- Akira Toriyama Comic artist · b. 1955
- Akira Kitaguchi Soccer player · b. 1935
- Akira Yoshizawa Artist · 1911–2005
- Akira Suzuki Chemist · b. 1930
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Akira mean?
Borrowed from Japanese あきら (Akira).
How popular is the name Akira in 2025?
Akira ranked #983 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 257 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Akira?
9,837 babies have been named Akira in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Akira most popular?
Akira peaked in 2008, when 453 newborns received the name.
Is Akira a boy or girl name?
Akira is used for both: about 79% of babies named Akira have been girls and 21% boys.
Is the name Akira rising or falling?
Akira is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Akira?
Well-known people named Akira include Akira Kurosawa (film director), Akira Toriyama (comic artist), Akira Kitaguchi (soccer player).