Akilah, of Arabic origin, translates to 'wise' or 'intelligent'. It's a unisex name but is more commonly used for females. Pronounced /əˈkiːlə/, it consists of three syllables and has a musical flow. Akilah is also found in Swahili culture, where it means 'the first female born'. The name gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, coinciding with the Black Power movement.
The name Akilah experienced a peak in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with over 90 births per year between 1976 and 1982. However, since then, its usage has declined significantly, falling below 50 births per year starting from 1984. The most recent data shows only 14 births in 2023, indicating that the name Akilah is now quite rare compared to its peak decades ago. In total, there have been 2988 births with the name Akilah since 1972.