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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Akai — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Akachukwu|Akaia
Japanese◈ Unisex · 52% boy · 48% girl↓ Fading

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Akai

◈

ah-KY · 2 syllables

Share Akai:
Compare with another name
Boy
#2129
↓ Fading
Boy
#2129
Popularity score: 23
↓ Fading
Peak
#1666 in 2023
5yr
-463 ranks
Velocity
-463
Birth frequency
1.9 per 100,000 births
Girl

Outside top 1000

Last ranked #9633 in 2023

Peak: #9633 in 2023

→ Stable
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
2.8 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #2129 · Rising since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Japanese boy names
Akai

Popularity score: 23  ·  SSA Rank: #2129

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20222023

Rank #9633 · Rising since 2022

This name is given to very few babies each year — it sits outside the range shown in these charts.

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
30
Higher than 30% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Fading
-463 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Unknown
— · — · —
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
70
5 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Akai scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
32
Uniqueness20% of score
70
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
JapaneseNatureUnisex2-syllableModernKanji-based
Character
warmth and passionconnection to nature
STRONG
High confidence

Akai is a Japanese unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2129 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Fading · -463 ranks
Feasibility:— · — · —
Popularity:#2129 · very rare
Akai at a Glance
Meaning:Typically composed of kanji meaning 'red' (赤) and 'love' or 'ocean' depending on character selection. Modern usage reflects both nature and emotional warmth.
Language root:Japanese · Kanji
Peak rank:#1666 in 2023
5yr change:-463 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #2129 · Girl #—
Notable bearers

No notable bearers on record.

Similar Sound
Aiko◈Akira◈AkaneKai◈Reo
Similar Style
NaokiHaru◈Sora◈Yuki◈Riku
Works well with
Hana◈SakuraKaitoYuki◈RikuEmiliaKai◈Luna
You Might Also Like
Naoki
Japanese · #9570
↑↑ Surging
Haru◈
Japanese · #4926
↓ Fading
Riku
Japanese · #4391
↑↑ Surging
Kobe
Japanese · #409
→ Stable
Raiden
Japanese · #449
→ Stable
Koda
Japanese · #464
↓ Declining
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Akai illustration
Name Intelligence
Akai · Overview
Summary

Akai is a Japanese unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2129 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 2/100 → Stable

Strengths
Works for any sex
52% boy · 48% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Modern character
Akai carries a warm, cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 463 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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