Image via Wikipedia
Expecting a little samurai? Looking for a name that suggests artistic genius?
Thanks to Sarah for suggesting one choice that combines both qualities. Our Baby Name of the Day is Akira.
I don’t know a word of Japanese, but based on the steady use of Akira, it appears to be a solidly established masculine moniker. Whether he’s more of an evergreen Joseph or a once-in-style, now-not-so-much Larry, I cannot say.
He instantly brings to mind one figure, at least in the West: legendary director Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa was referenced in the Barenaked Ladies’ catchy, what-are-they-saying 1998 single “One Week.”
Like Kurosawa I make mad films ‘Kay I don’t make films But if I did they’d have a samuraiNot every Kurosawa flick had a samurai. Born in 1910, he began his film career in his 20s. By the 1940s, he was established as a director in his own right. 1950′s Rashomon won a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, putting him – and Japanese film – on the map internationally. He was on a roll, and didn’t slow down for decades. In 1990, he was given an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Even if you haven’t seen a Kurosawa film, you’ve almost certainly seen his influence. George Lucas was a rabid fan, borrowing from Kurosawa’s work in Star Wars.
To a younger generation, Akira might be less about the legendary filmmaker, and more about a major landmark in anime. The 1988 film AKIRA, set in Neo-Tokyo in the year 2019, tells of a psychic child and a government conspiracy. Just like the director, the film that shares his name proved to be terribly influential.
Beyond the sci fi and the swordplay, Akira’s meaning is actually quite upbeat. Different configurations of kanji – the characters that make up the Japanese language – can spell Akira. Depending on the kanji used, Akira means clear, bright, or possibly intelligent.
He’s simple to spell, and if you’re in the know, Akira is an undeniably cool name. Trouble is that he’s a boys’ name, and how many third-graders have seen Rashomon? Based on sound alone, Akira has too much in common with popular feminine choices like Kyra, Kira, and Chiara. It is a little challenging to imagine being a fifth grade boy named Akira.
That’s changing, of course, with every Jayden and Ezra, Bailey and Jonah.
But it is equally possible that Akira will catch on in the US – for girls. According to Nancy, 339 girls were given the name in 2009, compared to just 32 boys.
Even if you can handle the name’s gender-bending sound, there’s always the question of whether a Japanese name would wear well on a fair-skinned American kid. I know plenty of little girls named Emma who aren’t German, but we’re not quite ready to be so cavalier about bestowing less common names.
Let’s say this: if you live in a diverse community with lots of independent film houses, Akira is the kind of hero name that would likely garner a positive response. If you’re looking for a Japanese heritage choice, this might be a contender. Otherwise, Akira is a gamble in the first spot, but powerful in the middle.
I’m not into anime so that reference totally escapes me; but I LOVE the sound of Akira, despite not being a big fan of the similar-sounding girls names you mentioned.
I love love love Akira. I believe that I read somewhere that it means Anchor in scottish? This would make it doubly attractive in that my sons both have names with nautical meanings (totally coincidental). Husband on the other hand has reservations considering the feminine sound and so I would probably have to compromise and go the root of Akir or Akiro.
Akira was the name of the dog that just about opened my left leg from thigh to knee when I was 9. I remember that dog!
So Akira’s not for me. I can’t see it on any of the very caucasian kids in the neighborhood, either. But hey, someone could use it. Akira seems emminently usable; easy to say, easy to spell and simply catchy. Kind of cool, even.
I knew a guy in high school named Akira, he was half Japanese and half african american. His last name was a name of a japanese car/ motorcycle company, so it kinda sounded like he was named for two cars .. Acura and Suzuki. Nobody ever made fun of him, but it was a point that was brought up in conversation a lot.. an interesting combination, but now I see that it would probably be very normal in a Japanese crowd.
I hate the idea of such a strong, unique masculine name like Akira going to the girls! I really hope it starts catching on among brave parents of sons.
My understanding is that Akira is unisex with a leaning towards the boys in Japan.
Also the pronunciation is tricky. Most English speakers would say “ah-KEER-ah” but to the Japanese it’s more like “ah-ki-rah.” They don’t emphasize syllables the same way we do.
I’m glad you said that, Isadora. My sense is that isn’t just Americans misunderstanding the name – there’s some ambiguity baked in. And thanks for the note on pronunciation – I should have included a Forvo link: http://www.forvo.com/word/akira/
The Oxford Dictionary of First Names listed Akira as unisex. I looked it up because I know an Akeerah and knowing her parents, I assumed it was Arabic or Western African. Of course Akeerah and Akira are not the same name, but like Isadora Vega mentioned, most English speaker will pronounce both names the same way.
If I read this name with a Japanese surname… like Akira Tanaka… I would probably assume they were male. But if I heard the name with a surname like Johnson, O’Brien or Ibrahim… I might think they were female.
Now that is fascinating … it makes me think of Akilah, which always struck me as masculine.
Julie, that is fascinating, I never thought of it like that before!
There is a character in Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel “Artist of the Floating World” named Akira Sugimura. He was a wealthy artist who died and his house was then sold to the main guy. Although he is dead, he has a big influence in the novel.
Thanks so much for covering this Abby! My husband is a screenwriter and Akira Kurosawa is one of his idols; we would love to use Akira in the middle spot to honor him. In our circles, everyone would know it was a boy and that it was for Kurosawa. Just like they would assume Ingmar was for Bergman, Nolan for Christopher, and Arwen from LOTR
I think you put it perfectly: “a gamble in the first spot but powerful in the middle”. The meaning is so great too. For parents who don’t mind their son’s name being read as female, or for those with Japanese heritage, I think Akira makes a wonderful name!
I instantly recognised this as a masculine name, despite being relatively unfamiliar with Japanese culture (my husband, on the other hand. . .). I actually really like the name, but as I told Mark when he suggested Reiko while we were expecting Roseanna, I just don’t think I can pull off having a child with a Japanese name.
Yeah I knew about this name already, that is what Japanese and male. To be honest, less common names at the bottom of the list will ALWAYS be more more popular for females since parents are likely to name their girls pretty much anything but will use more common names for boys – it’s a fact. Its probably why if a unisex name was #150 for boys and girls, I can guarantee you there were more boys named after it than girls.
Anyway, Akira strikes me as male for some reason, so I’m up for it. On girls for some reason it seems a lot more cheesy and common.
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