How to say it
a · KA · ri
ɑːˈkɑː.ri
Masculine
Akari
Light, lamp glow
What it means
A Japanese name meaning 'light' or 'lamp glow,' often written with kanji for 'bright' (明) or 'light' (光).
Akari comes from the everyday Japanese noun akari (灯り or 明かり), 'light' or 'lamp glow,' which traces back to the verb akaru, 'to become bright.' Written with kanji, it usually pairs a character for brightness or light, such as 明 (aka, 'bright') or 光 ('light'), with a second character like 里 (ri, 'village') or 莉 (ri, 'jasmine'), so the exact shade of meaning depends on the writing. It is most familiar as a girl's name in Japan and reads as gently unisex abroad. Akari entered the US top 1000 in 2025, part of a wave of soft, vowel-rich Japanese names crossing over.
How to spell Akari
The standard spelling is Akari. Common variants include Akira, Hikari, but Akari is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #542 in 2025, currently #542 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
ah-KAH-ree, three even syllables, light stress on the middle.
- Spelling
The meaning shifts with the kanji chosen, though 'light' is the common thread.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Akari Kito Japanese voice actress who voices Nezuko in the anime Demon Slayer
Spelling variants
- Akira
- Hikari
See Akari from another angle
By meaning
Common questions
- What does the name Akari mean?
- A Japanese name meaning 'light' or 'lamp glow,' often written with kanji for 'bright' (明) or 'light' (光).
- What does Akari mean in Japanese?
- In Japanese, Akari means "Light, lamp glow." Akari comes from the everyday Japanese noun akari (灯り or 明かり), 'light' or 'lamp glow,' which traces back to the verb akaru, 'to become bright.' Written with kanji, it usually pairs a character for brightness or light, such as 明 (aka, 'bright') or 光 ('light'), with a second character like 里 (ri, 'village') or 莉 (ri, 'jasmine'), so the exact shade of meaning depends on the writing. It is most familiar as a girl's name in Japan and reads as gently unisex abroad. Akari entered the US top 1000 in 2025, part of a wave of soft, vowel-rich Japanese names crossing over.
- How do you pronounce Akari?
- Akari is pronounced ɑːˈkɑː.ri. Say it as a-KA-ri, with the stress on the "ka" syllable.
- How do you spell Akari?
- The standard spelling is Akari. Common spelling variants include Akira, Hikari.
- Is Akari a boy or girl name?
- Akari is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Akari?
- Akari ranked #542 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.