Akane
Meaningdeep red · Japanese
Akane is a Japanese girl name meaning “deep red”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationAkane peaked in 1998, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Akane you'd meet today is about 27 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Akane would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 123,457 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryAkane first shows up in US birth records in 1979, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 46 years since.
US births per million girls, 1979–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Akane
Akane is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “deep red”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1990s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Akane
What does the name Akane mean?
Akane means “deep red” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Indigo (“deep blue dye”) and Crimson (“deep red”).
What is the origin of the name Akane?
Akane is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Akane a boy or girl name?
Akane is a girl name. In 2025, 13 US girls were named Akane.
How popular is the name Akane?
Akane ranked #7,885 for US girls in 2025, given to 13 babies. Its best year was 1998, when it reached #5,583. Over the last five years it has slipped 673 places.
What names are similar to Akane?
If you like Akane, you might also like Indigo and Crimson.
What should I know before naming my baby Akane?
Akane is a Japanese girl name meaning “deep red”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.