Total births
461
Unisex name · since 1972
Akili
Since 1972, U.S. Social Security records show 461 babies named Akili, peaking in 1999. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #10120
- among boys today
- 461
- born since 1972
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 29%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Akili is the #10120 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 461 recorded since 1972.
Akili has 461 recorded births among boys since 1972, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #10120 as of the latest data, more common than 29% of boys, busiest in the 1990s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2025.
- #10120 among boys today
- 461 born since 1972
- 1990s peak decade
- 29% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Akili is currently the #10120 unisex name in America, more common than 29% of boys - 461 born since 1972, peaking in the 1990s.
- #10120
- among boys today
- 461
- born since 1972
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 29%
- more common than other boys
Akili vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#10120
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 29% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
25% of everyone ever named Akili was born in this single decade.
1999
Single peak year
26 babies were named Akili in 1999 - its busiest year on record.
How Akili compares
461 Top 45% higher than 55% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Akili's all-time total is 26% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Akili | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 461 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 26 | 23 | 22,252 |
Akili's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Akili splits its recorded history at 2000: 46% of all births land in the more recent half, 54% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1974 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1999 peak of 26 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Akili at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1999
Current rank
#10,120
Active since
1972
Akili popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (1999)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Akili popularity over time - girls
254 total births recorded since 1992 (Akili as girls' name)
Akili by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Akili's strongest decade.
115 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Akili births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
90 births
- 1980s 43
1980s
43 births
- 1990s
1990s
115 births
- 2000s
2000s
113 births
- 2010s
2010s
64 births
- 2020s 36
2020s
36 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 115 births (25% of all-time use).
Akili by state
Where Akili concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 42 | 9.1% |
| #2 | New York | | 6 | 1.3% |
California share of Akili's total US births 9.1%
Even split
42 of 461 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Akili? ▼
Since 1972, Social Security records show 461 babies named Akili. Today it holds rank #10120 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1999, with 26 births.
When was Akili most popular? ▼
Akili was most popular in the 1990s decade with 115 total births. The single peak year was 1999.
Where is Akili most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Akili are California (42 births), New York (6 births).
Is Akili a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Akili is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 461 births, and as a girl's name it has 254 births.
How long has the name Akili been used? ▼
Akili has been recorded in Social Security data since 1972, spanning 54 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Akili? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Akiva, Akil, Akira, Akim, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Akili's data
- Akili's decade-level peak was the 1990s (115 total births); usage has since declined to 36 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Akilis (42 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Akili
Nearby Names Like Akili
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Akili
Akiva Boy
#1498 2,794 births
Akil Boy
#3241 2,147 births
Akira Boy
#2508 2,020 births
Akim Boy
#5290 813 births
Akio Boy
#4093 587 births
Compare Akili side by side: Akili vs Akiva Akili vs Akil Akili vs Akira
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Akili
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Akili: #10120 Unisex Name - 461 Births, Peak 1999." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/akili. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Akili draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.