Akai is a modern name that borrows from several sources: in Japanese akai is the word for "red", while American parents often treat it as a fresh take on Kai, "sea" in Hawaiian, with an A added in front. The audio brand Akai also made the word familiar. Akai has risen from around number 3700 in 2015 to a peak of number 1668 in 2023 and ranks number 1753 among boys' names in 2025.