Akela
Every Akela since 1975 — 658 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Akela
Akela is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #11,982 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1975, 658 American babies have been named Akela — about 94% girls and 6% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1996, when 27 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Akela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Akela year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | #11,982 | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | 7 | #9,931 |
| 2023 | 6 | #13,526 | — | — |
| 2022 | 7 | #12,289 | 6 | #10,913 |
| 2021 | 7 | #12,259 | 6 | #10,848 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8,428 | 8 | #8,767 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,507 | — | — |
| 2018 | 13 | #8,168 | 6 | #10,811 |
| 2017 | 10 | #9,977 | — | — |
| 2016 | 9 | #10,900 | 5 | #12,255 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,506 | — | — |
| 2014 | 9 | #11,007 | — | — |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,017 | — | — |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,243 | — | — |
| 2011 | 9 | #11,214 | — | — |
| 2010 | 7 | #13,502 | — | — |
| 2009 | 10 | #10,708 | — | — |
| 2008 | 8 | #12,617 | — | — |
| 2007 | 15 | #8,110 | — | — |
| 2006 | 23 | #5,716 | — | — |
| 2005 | 17 | #6,825 | — | — |
| 2004 | 17 | #6,779 | — | — |
| 2003 | 14 | #7,591 | — | — |
| 2002 | 18 | #6,136 | — | — |
| 2001 | 18 | #6,078 | — | — |
| 2000 | 19 | #5,708 | — | — |
| 1995 | 18 | #5,223 | — | — |
| 1990 | 20 | #4,698 | — | — |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,335 | — | — |
| 1980 | 11 | #5,919 | — | — |
| 1975 | 5 | #9,077 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Akela in 2025?
Akela ranked #11,982 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Akela?
658 babies have been named Akela in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Akela most popular?
Akela peaked in 1996, when 27 newborns received the name.
Is Akela a boy or girl name?
Akela is used for both: about 94% of babies named Akela have been girls and 6% boys.
Is the name Akela rising or falling?
Akela is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.