Akira is a unisex Japanese given name that means 'bright' or 'clear'. It was traditionally used more often for boys, but has gained popularity as a girl's name in recent years. The name Akira is composed of two kanji characters: 明 (aki), meaning 'bright', and ら (ra), which is a suffix commonly used to form female names. Akira is a popular choice among Japanese parents due to its positive connotation, and it has also gained international recognition through its use by notable figures such as the manga artist Katsuhiro Otomo's character in his famous work 'Akira'.
The name Akira experienced fluctuating popularity over the course of a century, with significant peaks and troughs in its usage. The highest number of births recorded was 54 in 1927, while there were periods where it dipped as low as 5 births per year (1962, 1964, 1967). Recently, the name has seen a resurgence with over 40 births each year since 2018.