Akira (given name)

Akira
Gender	Unisex, but predominantly male
Language(s)	Japanese
Origin
Meaning	many meanings depending on the kanji used
Other names
See also	Akiko

Akira (あきら, アキラ) is a given name present in a few languages. It is a unisex Japanese given name that is predominantly used for males. There are several kanji for Akira.

Written forms

In Japanese there are many alternative ways to write the name Akira in kanji. This is not an exhaustive list. A popular kanji is 明 (the combination of the two different characters 日 = sun and 月 = moon) which means "the light coming from the sun", "sunlight and moonlight", "bright", "intelligent", "wisdom" or "truth". Though Akira is generally used to name males, sometimes it can be a female name as well.

明, "bright"
亮, "light"
昭, "shining"
光, "light"
昌, "prosper"
晃, "clear"
彰, "acknowledge"
朗; "clear/bright"
晶, "sparkle"
章, "chapter/section"
旭; "rising sun"
顕; "exposure/clarity"
彬, "refined/gentle"
明楽, "bright, ease"
秋良, "autumn, good"
了, "completion"
安喜良, "calm, joy, good"
亜紀良, "asia, chronicle, good"
日日日, "day, day, day"
彬良, "refined/gentle, good"
明良, "bright, good"
旦 "morning/dawn"

People with the name

Akira Aizawa (相澤晃, born 1997), Japanese long-distance runner
Akira Akao (赤尾公, born 1988), Japanese footballer
Akira Akatsuki (暁月あきら, born 1977), Japanese manga artist
Akira Amano (天野明, born 1973), Japanese manga artist
Akira Amari (甘利明, born 1949), Japanese politician
Akira Ando (安東輝, born 1995), Japanese footballer
Akira Aoyama (青山士, 1878–1963), Japanese civil engineer
Akira Arimura (有村章, 1923–2007), Japanese endocrinologist, biochemist, physiologist, and professor
Akira Asada (浅田彰, born 1957), Japanese art critic and curator
Akira Asahara (浅原晃), Japanese Magic: The Gathering player
Akira Back (born 1974), Korean-American chef
Akira Chen (born 1969), Taiwanese actor and film director
Akira Chiba (born 1959), Japanese businessman
Akira Corassani (born 1982), Iranian-Swedish mixed martial artist
Akira Silvano Disaro (ディサロ燦シルヴァーノ, born 1996), Japanese footballer
Akira Eguchi, Japanese pianist
Akira Ejiri (江尻亮, born 1943), Japanese baseball player
Akira Emoto (柄本明, born 1948), Japanese actor
Akira Endo (遠藤章, born 1933), Japanese biochemist
Akira Endo (遠藤明, 1938–2014), Japanese-American conductor and music educator
Akira Eto (江藤智, born 1970), Japanese baseball player
Akira Fantini (ファンティーニ燦, born 1998), Japanese football goalkeeper
Akira Fitzgerald (フィッツジェラルド・アキラ, born 1987), Japanese football goalkeeper
Akira Fujii (藤井旭, 1941–2022), Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer
Akira Fujishima (藤嶋昭, born 1942), Japanese chemist and university president
Akira Fujita (藤田明, 1908–2001), Japanese water polo player
Akira Fujiwara (藤原彰, 1922–2003), Japanese historian
Akira Furuya (古谷彰), Japanese anime art director
Akira Fuse (布施明, born 1947), Japanese singer and actor
Akira Gomi (五味彬, born 1953), Japanese photographer
Akira Gunji (郡司彰, born 1949), Japanese politician
Akira Hagiwara (萩原光, 1956–1986), Japanese racing driver
Akira Hamashita (浜下瑛, born 1995), Japanese footballer
Akira Haraguchi (原口證, born 1946), Japanese mental health counsellor
Akira Hasegawa (長谷川晃, born 1934), Japanese physicist and engineer
Akira Hatano (秦野章, 1911–2002), Japanese politician
Akira Hayami (速水融, 1929–2019), Japanese historian and professor
Hayashi Akira (林韑, 1800–1859), Japanese scholar and diplomat
Akira Hayashi (林享, born 1974), Japanese swimmer
Akira Higashi (東輝, born 1972), Japanese ski jumper
Akira Himekawa, pen name used by a Japanese duo of manga artists
Akira Hiramoto (平本アキラ, born 1976), Japanese manga artist
Akira Hirose, Japanese engineer
Akira Hokuto (佐々木久子, born 1967), Japanese wrestler
Akira Hori (堀晃, born 1944), Japanese science fiction writer
Akira Hosomi (1943–2018), Japanese chemist
Akira Hyodo (兵頭彰, born 1995), Japanese wrestler
Akira Ibayashi (井林章, born 1990), Japanese footballer
Akira Ifukube (伊福部昭, 1914–2006), Japanese composer of classical music and film scores
Akira Iida (飯田章, born 1969), Japanese racing driver
Akira Inaba (稲葉陽, born 1988), Japanese shogi player
Akira Inoue (disambiguation), multiple people
Akira Ioane (born 1995), New Zealand rugby player
Akira Iriye (born 1934), historian of American diplomatic history
Akira Ishibashi (石橋顕, born 1973), Japanese sailor
Akira Ishida (石田彰, born 1967), Japanese voice actor
Akira Ishimaru (アキラ石丸, born 1928), Japanese-American engineer and academic
Akira Isogawa (五十川明, born 1964), fashion designer
Akira Ito (field hockey) (伊藤亮, born 1981), hockey player
Akira Itō (manga artist) (伊藤彰), Japanese manga artist
Akira Jimbo (神保彰, born 1959), Japanese jazz fusion drummer
Akira Kaji (加地亮, born 1980), Japanese football player
Akira Kamiya (神谷明, born 1946), Japanese voice actor
Akira Kanbe (かんべあきら), Japanese manga artist
Akira Kawashima (川島明, born 1979), Japanese comedian, television personality and actor
Akira Kobayashi (小林旭, born 1938), Japanese actor and singer
Akira Kodama (小玉晃, born 1944), Japanese basketball player
Akira Komoto (小本章, born 1935), Japanese artist
Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明, 1910–1998), Japanese film director, producer, and screenwriter
Akira Machida (町田顯, 1936–2015), head of the Japanese Supreme Court
Akira Maeda (前田日明, born 1959), wrestler
Akira Masuda (増田章, born 1962), Japanese karate practitioner
Akira Mitake (見岳章, born 1956), Japanese composer
Akira Mikazuki (三ヶ月章, 1921–2010), Japanese scholar and politician
Akira Morishita (森下晃, born 2001), Filipino-Japanese actor and singer
Akira Mutō (武藤章, 1892–1948), general in the Imperial Japanese Army
Akira Nakaura (中浦章, born 1935), Japanese sport wrestler
Akira Narahashi (名良橋晃, born 1971), Japanese football defender
Akira Nishio (西尾明, born 1979), Japanese shogi player
Akira Nogami (野上彰, born 1968), Japanese professional wrestler
Akira Raijin (雷陣明) or Akira Kawabata (川畑顕) (born 1978), Japanese professional wrestler
Akira Sakata (坂田明, born 1945), Japanese free jazz saxophonist
Akira Sasaki (佐々木明, born 1981), Japanese alpine skier
Akira Sasanuma (笹沼尭羅, born 1973), Japanese voice actor
Akira Satō (photographer) (佐藤明, 1930–2002), Japanese photographer
Akira Satō (ski jumper) (佐藤晃, born 1964), Japanese ski jumper
Akira Schmid (born 2000), Swiss ice hockey player
Akira Sekine (関根明良), Japanese voice actress
Akira Senju (千住明, born 1960), Japanese composer
Akira Shima (島朗, born 1963), Japanese shogi player
Akira Shoji (小路晃, born 1974), Japanese professional mixed martial artist
Akira Suzuki (disambiguation), multiple people
Akira Takabe (高部聖, born 1982), Japanese footballer
Akira Takarada (宝田明, born 1934–2022), Japanese actor
Akira Takasaki (高崎晃, born 1961), heavy metal guitarist
Akira Takayasu (髙安晃, born 1990), Japanese sumo wrestler
Akira Takeuchi (disambiguation), multiple people
Akira Tamura (田村明, 1926–2010), Japanese city planner
Akira Taue (田上明, born 1961), Japanese professional wrestler
Akira Terao (寺尾聰, born 1947), entertainer
Akira Tomii (富井周, 1890–1959), Japanese diplomat
Akira Toriyama (ophthalmologist) (鳥山晃, 1898–1994), Japanese ophthalmologist and photographer
Akira Toriyama (鳥山明, 1955–2024), Japanese manga artist and character designer
Akira Tozawa (戸澤陽, born 1985), Japanese professional wrestler
Akira Watanabe (disambiguation), multiple people
Akira Yaegashi (八重樫東, born 1983), Japanese professional boxer
Akira Yamada (山田晶, 1922–2008), Japanese philosopher
Akira Yamagishi (山岸章, 1929–2016), Japanese trade unionist
Akira Yamaguchi (山口晃, born 1969), Japanese artist
Akira Yamamoto (山本旭, 1913–1944), Japanese World War II flying ace
Akira Yamaoka (山岡晃, born 1968), Japanese composer and music producer
Akira Yanase (柳瀬彰良, born 1988), Japanese water polo player
Akira Yoshida (吉田明, born 1971), Japanese rugby union player
Akira Yoshino (吉野彰, born 1948), Japanese chemist
Akira Yoshizawa (吉澤章, 1911–2005), Japanese origamist

Fictional characters

Akira (Akira), the title character of Akira
Akira, a character in the video game Shin Megami Tensei IV
Akira (The Simpsons), a character in The Simpsons media
Akira, a character in the anime and manga Samurai Deeper Kyo
Akira, a character in the manga Dengeki Daisy
Akira, the main protagonist in the BL visual novel Togainu no Chi
Akira Agarkar Yamada, a character in Tsuritama media
Akira Akao, a character in the manga Sakamoto Days
Akira Asai, a character from Call of the Night
Akira Asaba (麻羽央), a character in Magical Trans!
Akira (Blue Mask), a character in Hikari Sentai Maskman
Akira Fudo, the main character in Devilman
Akira Fujiwara, a character in Ojamajo Doremi
Akira Hayama, a character in the manga Shokugeki no Soma
Akira Himi (aka Aqua Current), a character in the light novel Accel World
Akira Hojo, a character in Sanctuary
Akira Howard, the twin of the main protagonist in Astral Chain
Akira Inugami (aka Wolf), a character in the manga Wolf Guy
Akira Kaburagi Regendorf, the protagonist in the Dance in the Vampire Bund manga and its anime adaption
Akira Kazama, a character in Rival Schools media
Akira Kenjou (剣城あきら), a character in the anime series Kirakira PreCure a la Mode
Akira Kogami, a character in Lucky Star franchise
Akira Kogane, a character in Voltron: Defender of the Universe, also known as Beast King GoLion (given name changed to 'Keith' for the US adaptations)
Akira Kunimi (国見英), a character from Haikyu!! with the position of wing spiker for Aoba Johsai High
Akira Kurusu, the protagonist's name in the manga adaptation of Persona 5
Akira Kusano, a character in Nobuta wo Produce media
Akira Mado, a supporting character in the manga series Tokyo Ghoul
Akira Midousuji (御堂筋翔 Midōsuji Akira), a character in the manga and anime Yowamushi Pedal
Akira Mimasaka, a character in Boys Over Flowers media
Akira Momoi, a character in Denshi Sentai Denziman
Akira Nijigaoka, a character in Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure
Akira Nijino, a character from Ressha Sentai ToQger
Akira Nishikiyama, an antagonist from the game series Yakuza
Akira Okochi, a character in Negima!: Magister Negi Magi media
Akira Okuzaki, a character in My-HiME media
Akira Otoishi, a minor antagonist in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Akira Rai, a character in Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Akira Renbokoji, a character in the anime Kakumeiki Valvrave
Akira Satou, a character in Katawa Shoujo
Akira Sendoh, a character in the manga Slam Dunk
Akira Sengoku, the main character in the manga Eden no Ori
Akira Shimotsuki, a supporting character in the manga series, Watashi ni xx Shinasai
Akira Sohma, a character in Fruits Basket
Akira Tachibana (橘あきら), a protagonist in the manga After the Rain (manga)
Akira Tadokoro, one of the eight main protagonists of Live A Live
Akira Takano, a character in School Rumble media
Akira Takaoka, an antagonist in Assassination Classroom
Akira Takizawa, a character in the anime Eden of the East
Akira Toudou, a character in the Special A
Akira Toudou, a character from the manga series World's End Harem
Akira Toya, a character in Hikaru no Go media
Akira Udō, a character in Air Gear media
Akira Yamabuki (Yamatoga in the English dub), a character from the anime series Beyblade Burst
Akira Yuki, a character in the Virtua Fighter universe
Akira Yukishiro, a character in the Revue Starlight franchise

Akira (given name)

Written forms

People with the name

Fictional characters

See also