What does Akira mean?
Akira is commonly written with a kanji meaning “bright” or “clear.”
What does Nagi mean?
Nagi is written with the kanji for the calm “lull” of the sea between wind and waves.
Akira vs Nagi
Which is more popular?
Akira is more popular than Nagi today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 8 named Nagi.
| Akira | Nagi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright, clear | Calm, lull |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | ah-KEE-rah | NAH-gee |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1973 | 1992 |
| Peak year | 2008 (424) | 2024 (10) |
| In 2025 | 257 | 8 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Akira
Nagi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Akira | Nagi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,378 | 26 |
| 2010s | 2,521 | 41 |
| 2000s | 2,625 | 48 |
| 1990s | 955 | 11 |
| 1980s | 288 | 0 |
| 1970s | 50 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Akira or Nagi more popular?
Akira is more popular than Nagi today: about 257 US babies were given the name Akira in 2025, compared with 8 named Nagi.
What is the difference between Akira and Nagi?
Akira means Bright, clear (Japanese origin), while Nagi means Calm, lull (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Akira or Nagi?
In US records, Akira first appears in 1973 and Nagi in 1992, so Akira has the longer recorded history.