Akira

I feel like this argument happens on every single unisex name—yes this name is mostly masculine in Japan, but it *is* unisex and there are women in Japan with the name, without searching too hard I found actresses Akira Sekine, Akira Saitō, and Akira Matsuoka, and a female politician Akira Matsu. “Blaming” Akira being used as a name for girls on American women is honestly ridiculous.

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Drama aside, this feels like a very classic, elegant, and strong name! I believe it’s less popular these days, but I think it’s rather timeless :)

My middle name is Akira. My father named me, he was a big fan of samurai movies, Akira Kurosawa. Anyways I am a girl. I know traditionally it’s male……..but I mean I like my name.

I always thought this was a girl’s name. I stand corrected. I like it on both genders but I prefer it on boys.

Unique sounding Japanese male name that means Bright and Clear and Ideal etc. It's also a unisex name BUT more commonly used by male than female in Japan.

This is one of those names that everyone agrees is totally cool.

Personally I way prefer this as a male name and I really love it! I know a male character with this name and it suits him very well.

Really cool name! It sounds so intelligent and brave. Perfect for both genders in my opinion.

I love this name! I'm writing a story about a unisex character with this name.

Please don't change a masculine Japanese name to a feminine name for stupid American girls. I've seen enough of Mary Sato's (girl) and Aiko Johnson's (boy) and I don't want this rotting world to return to the monkey.

[For future reference to self] I don’t want this to be a basic American girl name either, but I’ve been involved with Japanese culture since I was seven years old even though I’m a black American. I’m studying Japanese for 12+ years now and would like this to be my name because I want a masculine sounding name. Akito and Akira.

People, a name's ending doesn't define if it's masculine or feminine.

Definitely way better on a boy!

I'm surprised but glad to see this traditional Japanese name for a boy be used as a girl's name in the USA. I chose Akira as my Japanese name regardless of my gender because I knew it's a masculine name in Japan and I like girls to do that. I like unisex names.

Please don’t turn this proud, masculine Japanese name into one for basic American girls. Please.

I hate it as a girl's name, but a boy named Akira? I like it.

I love it as a girl's name.

I LOAF this name! The only thing I don't like that it is Unisex, meaning it is both male and a female name. It's ok, very fine..

Akira is a unisex name that sounds great. However, I don't like this name as a boy's name due to the "a" at the end. But I wouldn't mind using it for a girl. In fact, it seems to be more of a girl's name to me.

Akira is one of my favorite Japanese girl names! It sounds so beautiful and elegant! I picture Japanese flowers when I think of this! I love this name for a girl, for a boy I don’t think it sounds that masculine at all!

One of the few names that I find can truly work for either a male or a female, though I slightly prefer it on a male. It sounds strong and brave, like it was meant for someone who is going to be a leader.

Definetly feminine! So pretty
I don't see Akira as masculine at all.

I think this name is very pretty. I think it's more feminine than masculine and I love its meaning. Keep on shining!

In the Japanese culture, a name that ends with an "A" is masculine and names ending with an "O" is feminine.

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This is a lovely name or either boy or girl. It brings to mind a person who is happy-go-lucky; who can smile and make a bleak room bright and inviting. I wish this was my name. But hey, who says I can't name my kid this in the future?

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For all you Akiras out there; stay bright!

Well, I am a girl and my name is Kili-Akira. Akira isn't really my first name, but it is because it's a part of it. I really like my name. Lots of people think that Akira is only a girls name, but it's not. I know a few people named Akira and they are all boys. But people only say that the name is cute when they hear it in my name. But no one can ever pronounce it right. It is KEY-lee a-KEY-ra. That's why everybody calls me Kailey.