Akshan
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "eye" or "sky blue".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Akshan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Akshan today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Akshan births was 2012 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Akshan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Akshan with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Akshan. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2012
5 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2012 SSA rank
#12,340
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Akshan: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Akshan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Akshan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Akshan
The name Akshan has its origins in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have emerged as a given name during the ancient Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "aksha," which means "axle" or "pivot," symbolizing stability and strength.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Akshan can be found in the ancient Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Akshan is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandavas during the great battle of Kurukshetra. This reference suggests that the name was in use among the warrior class during the time of the Mahabharata's composition, which is estimated to be around the 8th century BCE.
In the 5th century BCE, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer named Akshan Suri made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. His work on the calculation of planetary positions and the development of mathematical techniques for astronomical calculations earned him a place in the annals of Indian scientific history.
During the medieval period, Akshan Khilji was a prominent Muslim general who served under the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Sultanate's territories and was known for his military prowess.
In the realm of literature, Akshan Baral was a notable Bengali poet and playwright who lived during the 19th century. His works, which often explored themes of social reform and human emotions, had a significant impact on the Bengali literary scene of that era.
Another noteworthy figure bearing the name Akshan was Akshan Saheb, a spiritual leader and social reformer from the 18th century. He advocated for the abolition of sati (widow immolation) and worked towards improving the lives of widows and underprivileged women in Indian society.
While the name Akshan may have gained more popularity in certain regions and time periods, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language and the Indian subcontinent. The name's association with strength, stability, and historical figures from various fields showcases its enduring legacy across the centuries.
People
Akshan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Akshan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Akshan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Akshan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Akshan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Akshan a common name?
We classify Akshan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Akshan most popular?
The single biggest year for Akshan was 2012, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Akshan is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Akshan in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Akshan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Akshan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Akshan still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Akshan in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Akshan can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Akshan as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.