reviewedunisex

明

Akira Japanese Name

あきら · アキラ

JMnedict attests 明 read あきら as a given name whose sex classification is unspecified. The unisex label here reflects that source category, not a measured gender split or a current frequency claim.

Meaning overview

These interpretations belong to this reviewed name record. Variant-specific explanations appear separately below.

明 has the dictionary glosses “bright” and “light”; these are character glosses rather than a verified naming intention.

lightbrightnesssingle-kanji

Name facts

This record has passed the site's publication quality gate.

Hiragana: あきら
Katakana: アキラ
Pronunciation: ah-kee-rah
Gender association: Unisex
Usage status: Usage uncertain
Origin: Japanese given name; this record covers 明 read あきら.
Mora count: 3
Record status: Reviewed
Last reviewed: July 25, 2026

Naturalness note

Listen to Akira

Reviewed reading: あきら · written guide: ah-kee-rah

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Kanji variants

Each spelling is documented separately so its gloss and usage note are not mixed with another variant.

明

あきら

high confidence

Documented interpretation

bright
light

Usage note

JMnedict records 明 read あきら as a given name not classified by sex; it also lists 明 as a surname spelling.

Sources: 1, 2

Editorial notes

Cultural context

明 has multiple name readings and can also occur as a surname; this page covers its use as the given name あきら.

Pronunciation notes

The English guide is an approximation and does not encode Japanese pitch accent.

Common misunderstandings

The unisex label does not mean equal use across genders; JMnedict’s code means the given name is not classified by sex.

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Related nameHikaru光 · ひかる

Sources and evidence limits

Sources support specific fields, not every possible claim about the name. Their limitations remain visible here.

ENAMDICT/JMnedict Japanese Proper Names Dictionary
Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group · JA,EN · accessed Jul 25, 2026
Fields supported on this page
Hiragana, Romaji, Genders, Kanji Variants 0 reading, Is Real Name, Origin, Usage Status, Naturalness Note
The exact 明 [あきら] entry is tagged as a given name not classified by sex.
Source limitation
Dictionary inclusion does not measure current frequency, guarantee a reading for every bearer, or establish legal acceptance of a new registration.
KANJIDIC Project
Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group · JA,EN · accessed Jul 25, 2026
Fields supported on this page
Kanji Variants 0 meanings, Meanings, Themes
Only the individual character glosses are used.
Source limitation
Character glosses are not whole-name translations and do not establish an intended whole-name meaning or family etymology.

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