Akira
Girl name · #985 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
Akira is currently the #985 girl name in the United States — 257 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1026, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,004 girls born in 2025 was named Akira.
The 52-year story
Akira first appears in the Social Security records in 1973, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 424 girls were named Akira — good for #707 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Akira per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Akira against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Akira in class?
Akira scores 54 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Akira is most common
Geography matters for names, and Akira is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Akiras were CA (42), TX (24), NY (17), FL (14), GA (13). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Akira
Statistically, parents drawn to Akira tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Zaira, Keira, Anika, Aliya, and Kaira.
ZairaKeiraAnikaAliyaKairaClairaSamiraAiyana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Akira | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 257 | #983 |
| 2024 | 274 | #952 |
| 2023 | 248 | #1018 |
| 2022 | 190 | #1259 |
| 2021 | 204 | #1191 |
| 2020 | 205 | #1152 |
| 2019 | 210 | #1145 |
| 2018 | 215 | #1135 |
| 2017 | 251 | #1030 |
| 2016 | 261 | #1012 |
| 2015 | 260 | #1026 |
| 2014 | 233 | #1092 |
| 2013 | 229 | #1080 |
| 2012 | 265 | #958 |
| 2011 | 275 | #938 |
| 2010 | 322 | #835 |
| 2009 | 345 | #819 |
| 2008 | 424 | #707 |
| 2007 | 336 | #845 |
| 2006 | 270 | #970 |
| 2005 | 229 | #1042 |
| 2004 | 199 | #1144 |
| 2003 | 213 | #1057 |
| 2002 | 242 | #923 |
| 2001 | 202 | #1056 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Akira a popular girl name?
Akira ranked #985 among girls in 2025 with 257 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1026.
When was the name Akira most popular?
Akira peaked in 2008, when 424 American girls received the name (ranked #707 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Akira?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,004 newborn American girls was named Akira. It scores 54/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.