Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Akari isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1990. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Akari through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,410
- 1,278 boys · 1,132 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 658 babies
- 2025
- 658
- #542 for boys · #1,881 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +211%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 61% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 554 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 542 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 338.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 104 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (47). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 942 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Akari’s family of names
In Japanese usage, Akari is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 明里. In Japanese usage, Akari is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 朱莉. In Japanese usage, Akari is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 朱里.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 8
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Akari
- Akari KurishimaJapanese association football playerborn 1994
- Akari KitōJapanese voice actress and singerborn 1994
- Akari FujinamiJapanese freestyle wrestlerborn 2003
- Akari OgataJapanese judokaborn 1990
- Akari AsahinaJapanese AV idolborn 1988
- Akari UemuraJapanese singer, dancer, and modelborn 1998
- Akari ShirakiJapanese association football playerborn 1996
- Akari KaidaJapanese video game music composerborn 1974
- Akari TakaishiJapanese actress (2002-)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Akari, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Amari
“having great strength; a builder”
66% boys · 34% girls
Kamari
Kamari is a masculine given name.
72% boys · 28% girls
Azariah
“one who is helped by God”
52% boys · 48% girls
Armani
“one who is desired; a goal”
56% boys · 44% girls
Bellamy
“a handsome friend”
49% boys · 51% girls
Rumi
40% boys · 60% girls
Yuriah
49% boys · 51% girls
Briar
“resembling a thorny plant”
38% boys · 62% girls