Akira is a unisex Japanese given name written in kanji as 螢 or bright red and white. It means "bright red and white" and was traditionally used for boys. However, in recent years it has become more common for girls. The name Akira is often associated with the anime film of the same name directed by Katsuhiro Otomo, which tells the story of a teenage boy named Akira who acquires extraordinary psychic abilities.
The origin of the name Akira can be traced back to ancient Japan. The kanji character 螢 means firefly in Japanese, and was traditionally used as a boy's name. However, over time, the meaning of the name has evolved to encompass not just brightness, but also strength and courage.
One notable historical figure with the name Akira is Akira Kurosawa, the renowned Japanese filmmaker known for his works such as "Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon". Kurosawa's name means "bright red and white", reflecting his vibrant and bold cinematic style.
In popular culture, Akira has been used in various forms of media to represent characters with exceptional abilities or strength. For example, in the anime series "Naruto", there is a character named Akimichi Chouji whose name contains the kanji for red (赤) and white (白), reflecting his powerful digestive abilities.
Overall, Akira is a unique and powerful Japanese given name that carries deep cultural significance. Its meaning of "bright red and white" reflects not just physical appearance, but also inner strength and courage.
Based on the statistics provided for the given name Akira in the United States from 1913 to 2023, we can observe several trends:
* The popularity of the name Akira has varied significantly over the years.
* From 1913 to 1938, the number of births with the name Akira remained relatively low, fluctuating between 5 and 39 births per year.
* There was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Akira from the late 1970s onwards. The highest point during this period occurred in 1998, with 41 births recorded that year.
* Since the late 1990s, the name Akira has maintained consistent popularity, with the number of births ranging between 24 and 49 per year.
* In recent years (from 2018 to 2023), the popularity of the name Akira has shown an upward trend, with more than 45 births recorded each year.
In conclusion, while Akira was not a particularly popular name in the early to mid-20th century in the United States, its popularity grew significantly from the late 1970s onwards and has remained consistent since then.