What Does the Name Akari Mean?
Akari is a girl's name of Japanese origin meaning “"light" or "brightness".”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Akari |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Japanese |
| Meaning | "light" or "brightness" |
| Variants | Akarihi, Hikari |
| Popularity | A trendy modern name that has ranked among the most popular girls' names in Japan in the 2000s and 2010s. |
The meaning and origin of Akari
The name Akari means “"light" or "brightness"” and has Japanese origins. From Japanese 明 (aka) meaning "bright" or 朱 (aka) "vermilion" combined with 里 (ri) "village" or 莉 (ri) "white jasmine"; it can also be written 灯 meaning "light, lamp." The name evokes brightness and illumination.
Variants and related names
Akari is related to several other names you may recognize: Akarihi, Hikari. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Akari?
A trendy modern name that has ranked among the most popular girls' names in Japan in the 2000s and 2010s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Akari mean?+
The name Akari means “"light" or "brightness"” and is of Japanese origin.
What is the origin of the name Akari?+
Akari originates from Japanese.
Is Akari a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Akari has trended in the US over time.
Akari by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press