What does Akira mean?
Akira is commonly written with a kanji meaning “bright” or “clear.”
What does Aoi mean?
Aoi can mean “hollyhock” or “blue/green,” depending on the kanji.
Akira vs Aoi
Which is more popular?
Akira is more popular than Aoi today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 9 named Aoi.
| Akira | Aoi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, clear | Hollyhock; blue |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | ah-KEE-rah | AH-oh-ee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1973 | 1994 |
| Peak year | 2008 (424) | 2014 (14) |
| In 2025 | 257 | 9 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Akira
Aoi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Akira | Aoi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,378 | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,521 | 95 |
| 2000s | 2,625 | 81 |
| 1990s | 955 | 23 |
| 1980s | 288 | 0 |
| 1970s | 50 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Akira or Aoi more popular?
Akira is more popular than Aoi today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 9 named Aoi.
What is the difference between Akira and Aoi?
Akira means Bright, clear (Japanese origin), while Aoi means Hollyhock; blue (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Akira or Aoi?
In US records, Akira first appears in 1973 and Aoi in 1994, so Akira has the longer recorded history.