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