What does Sakura mean?
Sakura means “cherry blossom,” Japan’s emblematic spring flower; other kanji give other senses.
What does Akari mean?
Akari is commonly written with kanji meaning “light” or “brightness.”
Sakura vs Akari
Which is more popular?
Akari is more popular than Sakura today: about 104 US babies were given the name Akari in 2025, compared with 58 named Sakura.
| Sakura | Akari | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Cherry blossom | Light, brightness |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | sah-KOO-rah | ah-KAH-ree |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1970 | 1990 |
| Peak year | 2012 (87) | 2023 (111) |
| In 2025 | 58 | 104 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sakura
Akari
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sakura | Akari |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 322 | 513 |
| 2010s | 702 | 386 |
| 2000s | 595 | 176 |
| 1990s | 113 | 57 |
| 1980s | 41 | 0 |
| 1970s | 10 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sakura or Akari more popular?
Akari is more popular than Sakura today: about 104 US babies were given the name Akari in 2025, compared with 58 named Sakura.
What is the difference between Sakura and Akari?
Sakura means Cherry blossom (Japanese origin), while Akari means Light, brightness (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Sakura or Akari?
In US records, Sakura first appears in 1970 and Akari in 1990, so Sakura has the longer recorded history.