Akari

Akari is a Japanese name most often written with characters meaning light or brightness, the kind of small lit glow that a paper lantern throws against a wooden wall. It's been steadily popular in Japan for decades and has traveled through anime, manga, and Noguchi's Akari light sculptures, which take their name from the same word. At 1861 in American rankings and unisex in cross-cultural use, it reads gentle and luminous, three syllables that move on soft feet. The a's stay open, the r is light, the whole name hums warmly. Akari is quiet light, named out loud.