Unisex · #1,875 in 2026

Akai

Akai is the name of:Shuichi Akai , a fictional character in the manga series Case Closed Shuichi Akai (footballer) , Japanese former footballer Takami Akai , Japanese illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator Saki Akai , Japanese professional wrestler Hideyuki Akai , Japanese footballer Akai Teruko , Japanese Onna-musha warrior Akai Terukage , Japanese samurai Akai Gurley…

Current Rank
#1,875
Peak Rank
#1,666 (2023)
Total Babies
1K
5-Yr Trend
+49%
👧 Girl peak #9,608 (68 total)
👦 Boy peak #1,666 (1K total)
👦As Boy Name
1975
First Year
2026
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#1666
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
31
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1985
First Year
2023
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#9608
Peak Rank
68
Total Count
10
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Akai

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Akai is the name of:Shuichi Akai , a fictional character in the manga series Case Closed Shuichi Akai (footballer) , Japanese former footballer Takami Akai , Japanese illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator Saki Akai , Japanese professional wrestler Hideyuki Akai , Japanese footballer Akai Teruko , Japanese Onna-musha warrior Akai Terukage , Japanese samurai Akai Gurley…

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Akai

As a girl name

Akai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1985, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 10 Akais were born — ranking #9,608 that year. As of 2026, Akai ranks #9,608 for girls with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 68 Akais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Akai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1975, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 102 Akais were born — ranking #1,666 that year. As of 2026, Akai ranks #1,875 for boys with 86 births, rising sharply (+49% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Akais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Akai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Akai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Akey
  • Ackee
  • Ucca
  • Acou
  • Accoy
  • Acai
  • Achei
  • Aqu
  • Acsh
  • Ago
  • Echo
  • Eco

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Akai

What does the name Akai mean?
Akai is the name of:Shuichi Akai , a fictional character in the manga series Case Closed Shuichi Akai (footballer) , Japanese former footballer Takami Akai , Japanese illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator Saki Akai , Japanese professional wrestler Hideyuki Akai , Japanese footballer Akai Teruko , Japanese Onna-musha warrior Akai Terukage , Japanese samurai Akai Gurley…
How popular is Akai in 2026?
In 2026, Akai ranks #1,875 among boys' names in the U.S., with 86 babies given the name that year.
When was Akai most popular?
Akai reached its peak popularity in 2023, ranking #1,666 that year with 102 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Akai most popular?
Akai has historically been most popular in Indiana, North Carolina, Michigan. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Akai.
Is Akai a unisex name?
Yes — Akai is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 6% of Akais assigned female and 94% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Akai?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Akai include Suleiman, Xavian, Kern. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Akai

Akai is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Akai's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #1,666. Use the chart and map above to compare Akai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.