Aki
Meaningoften autumn or bright · Japanese
Aki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “autumn or bright”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Aki and you get Kai. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationAki peaked in 1974, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Aki you'd meet today is about 51 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Akis too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Aki would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 100,000 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryAki first shows up in US birth records in 1971, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 54 years since.
US births per million girls, 1972–2025
US births per million boys, 1971–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Aki
Aki is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often autumn or bright”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 1970s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Aki
What does the name Aki mean?
Aki means “often autumn or bright” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Sharad (“autumn”).
What is the origin of the name Aki?
Aki is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Aki a boy or girl name?
Aki is a boy name. In 2025, 17 US boys were named Aki.
How popular is the name Aki?
Aki ranked #5,399 for US boys in 2025, given to 17 babies. Its best year was 1974, when it reached #3,837. Over the last five years it has climbed 3,340 places.
What names are similar to Aki?
If you like Aki, you might also like Sharad.
What should I know before naming my baby Aki?
Aki is a Japanese boy name often meaning “autumn or bright”. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.