UK boy's name
Akito
Akito is a Japanese name meaning "bright man".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Akito is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Akito popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2007 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Akito. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Akito ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Akito.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Akito as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4810
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Akito mean?
The name Akito is a Japanese given name derived from the words "aki" meaning "autumn" and "to" meaning "door" or "gate." It is believed to have originated during the Heian period (794-1185 CE) in Japan. The name is often associated with the arrival of autumn and the changing of seasons.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Akito can be found in the ancient Japanese literary work "The Tale of Genji," written in the early 11th century by the renowned author Murasaki Shikibu. In the tale, Akito is the name of a minor character, the son of Prince Genji.
Throughout Japanese history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Akito. One such figure was Akito Arima (1617-1638), a Japanese samurai and military commander who served under the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period.
Another prominent Akito was Akito Watanabe (1835-1887), a Japanese politician and statesman who played a significant role in the Meiji Restoration and served as the Minister of Finance during the early years of the Meiji government.
In more recent times, the name Akito has been associated with Akito Nakajima (1943-2019), a Japanese musician and songwriter who was a member of the popular rock band Happy End. He wrote and composed many of the band's hit songs.
Akito Hirakawa (1924-2022) was a Japanese actor and voice actor who had a prolific career spanning over seven decades. He is particularly known for his voice work in various anime series and films, including his iconic portrayal of the character Captain Okita in the "Space Battleship Yamato" franchise.
Akito Arima (1930-2020) was a renowned Japanese architect and educator. He designed several notable buildings, including the Fukuoka Dome and the Tokyo Dome Hotel, and served as the president of the University of Tokyo from 1992 to 1998.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout Japanese history who have borne the name Akito, showcasing its enduring presence and cultural significance within Japanese society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Akito over time
The chart below shows babies named Akito registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Akito, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Akito by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Akito was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4748 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4333 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Akito
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Akito: questions and answers
How popular is the name Akito in the UK right now?
In 2016, Akito was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Akito most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Akito in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Akito?
Akito is a Japanese name meaning "bright man".
How many people are called Akito in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Akito across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.