Unisex · #10,791 in 2026

Akanni

Akanni is a Nigerian masculine given name and oriki of Yoruba origin meaning "One that is special to have." The name is morphologically structured as à-kàn-ní, with “à”, “kàn” (specially), and “ní” (have).

Current Rank
#10,791
Peak Rank
#10,994 (2009)
Total Babies
17
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #12,132 (7 total)
👦 Boy peak #10,994 (17 total)
👦As Boy Name
2009
First Year
2021
Last Year
2009
Peak Year
#10994
Peak Rank
17
Total Count
3
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2020
First Year
2020
Last Year
2020
Peak Year
#12132
Peak Rank
7
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Akanni

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

Akanni is a Nigerian masculine given name and oriki of Yoruba origin meaning "One that is special to have." The name is morphologically structured as à-kàn-ní, with “à”, “kàn” (specially), and “ní” (have).

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

The Story of Akanni

As a girl name

Akanni first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2020, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 7 Akannis were born — ranking #12,132 that year. As of 2026, Akanni ranks #12,132 for girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 7 Akannis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Akanni first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2009, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 6 Akannis were born — ranking #10,994 that year. As of 2026, Akanni ranks #10,791 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 17 Akannis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s 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 Akanni

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

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Akanni

What does the name Akanni mean?
Akanni is a Nigerian masculine given name and oriki of Yoruba origin meaning "One that is special to have." The name is morphologically structured as à-kàn-ní, with “à”, “kàn” (specially), and “ní” (have).
How popular is Akanni in 2026?
In 2026, Akanni ranks #10,791 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Akanni most popular?
Akanni reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #10,994 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Akanni a unisex name?
Yes — Akanni is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 29% of Akannis assigned female and 71% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Akanni?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Akanni include Avie, Ferdy, Dejuane. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Akanni

Akanni is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2009 and has accumulated 17 births in the dataset. Akanni's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #10,994. Use the chart and map above to compare Akanni'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.