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Help[Opinions] Akari
WDYT of the name Akari? I've heard it has been used in the US at times (even though it has not appeared in the top 1000 yet). Unfortunately, I actually found some black male bearers of this name on the web. One of them is Akari Topley, an American professional basketball player. I'm not joking. However, I love the meaning and wish to consider it for a fanmade PreCure series I would make.
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An African American with the name probably got it from somewhere else, and in another culture it is probably masculine. I don't mind that.
I do prefer it on a girl though. It sounds very cute and sweet. It could mean "red jasmine" in Japanese. It's charming.
I do prefer it on a girl though. It sounds very cute and sweet. It could mean "red jasmine" in Japanese. It's charming.
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I think Akari is really pretty and one of my favorite Japanese names.
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"Unfortunately"? I don't really see it mattering. It's not like they can steal it and ruin it. It's still the name it is. Just use it. There are a bajillion Japanese female Akaris, right? They're not erased.
Personally I wouldn't make a connection between the name of a Japanese gal, and the name of a black American guy - it just seems like a coincidence, two names that have the same spelling but probably different origins. Akari on a black American male comes off to me like a riff on Jakari, or maybe it's some obscure name originating in Africa - I wouldn't interpret it to be a coopted Japanese female name unless I had some reason to. Even if it is that, I wouldn't care, if I were you. It's sorta like, I named my son a traditionally masculine name that has been a fad for girls in the US - because it was a passing fad, and didn't change the primary usage, or the image of the name when used for guys.
Personally I wouldn't make a connection between the name of a Japanese gal, and the name of a black American guy - it just seems like a coincidence, two names that have the same spelling but probably different origins. Akari on a black American male comes off to me like a riff on Jakari, or maybe it's some obscure name originating in Africa - I wouldn't interpret it to be a coopted Japanese female name unless I had some reason to. Even if it is that, I wouldn't care, if I were you. It's sorta like, I named my son a traditionally masculine name that has been a fad for girls in the US - because it was a passing fad, and didn't change the primary usage, or the image of the name when used for guys.
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I'm not that surprised about the usage on black males, given that there is kind of a culture of Af-Am's adopting Japanese names (also, there are a LOT of anime fans in the NFL and NBA). If it is in fact inspired by the Japanese name and not some unheard of African name. I'm not really bothered about it either, it kind of works.
As for the name Akari, I think it's cute, maybe a little too cute. I prefer Akane.
As for the name Akari, I think it's cute, maybe a little too cute. I prefer Akane.
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I have a black friend named Akane, so I’m not surprised either.
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What other Japanese names have been adopted by black Americans? How do you know it's "in fact inspired by the Japanese name"?
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