Akira
Boy name · #2546 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Akira? In official American birth records, Akira has been tracked continuously since 1913, giving it 112 years of documented American history.
Akira ranks #2546 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 52 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3299, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 34,615 boys born in 2025 was named Akira.
Babies named Akira per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 112-year story
Akira first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 54 boys were named Akira — good for #937 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Akira against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Akira in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Akira is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Akira will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Akira is most common
State-level data for Akira is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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 Hosea, Arlin, Judge, Arlan, and Arlen.
HoseaArlinJudgeArlanArlenSilvioAbeOmer
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Akira | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 52 | #2539 |
| 2024 | 54 | #2502 |
| 2023 | 49 | #2660 |
| 2022 | 45 | #2830 |
| 2021 | 43 | #2862 |
| 2020 | 46 | #2689 |
| 2019 | 30 | #3636 |
| 2018 | 45 | #2708 |
| 2017 | 25 | #4105 |
| 2016 | 24 | #4199 |
| 2015 | 34 | #3299 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 24 | #4064 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3807 |
| 2011 | 35 | #3164 |
| 2010 | 34 | #3239 |
| 2009 | 32 | #3399 |
| 2008 | 29 | #3646 |
| 2007 | 35 | #3188 |
| 2006 | 37 | #2979 |
| 2005 | 28 | #3447 |
| 2004 | 45 | #2452 |
| 2003 | 42 | #2470 |
| 2002 | 45 | #2295 |
| 2001 | 37 | #2562 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Akira?
In official American birth records, the name Akira first appeared in 1913 (over 112 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 112 years.
Is Akira a popular boy name?
Akira ranked #2546 among boys in 2025 with 52 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3299.
When was the name Akira most popular?
Akira peaked in 1927, when 54 American boys received the name (ranked #937 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Akira?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 34,615 newborn American boys was named Akira. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.