Akela Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-KAY-lah /əˈkeɪlə/
Origin: Hawaiian; Sanskrit
Meaning: Hawaiian: noble; Sanskrit: a name for a wolf
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Akela has its roots in the Hawaiian language, where it means "graceful" or "noble." The etymology can be traced back to the Proto-Polynesian language, which is the ancestral language of the Polynesian languages, including Hawaiian. The transition into English likely occurred through the cultural exchange that took place during the 19th and 20th centuries as Hawaiian culture gained more visibility in Western contexts, particularly through literature and media.
Historically, the name Akela has been associated with various cultural narratives and figures. In the early 20th century, the name gained prominence through its use in literature, notably in the works of authors who depicted Hawaiian culture and mythology.
One significant milestone was the publication of James Michener's "Hawaii" in 1959, which brought Hawaiian names and themes into the broader American consciousness. Additionally, the character Akela, a wise wolf in Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book," published in 1894, contributed to the name's recognition, although this character's name is derived from a different linguistic source.
Culturally, Akela resonates with themes of leadership and wisdom, often symbolizing strength and grace. The name has been embraced in various contexts, including literature and film, where it is used to evoke a sense of nobility and connection to nature.
In Hawaiian culture, names often carry significant meanings and are chosen to reflect the values and aspirations of the family, further enhancing the cultural weight of the name Akela. Its association with grace and nobility continues to support its enduring presence in various narratives.
Fictional characters named Akela
The following list of fictional characters named Akela is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Akela is a fictional character from the book The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. He is the wise leader of the wolf pack that raises Mowgli, teaching him the ways of the jungle.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Akela, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Akela. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Akela was first seen in the United States in 1975.
Akela has ranked as high as #1205 nationally, which occurred in 1996, and has been most popular in California, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Akela has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Akela is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Akela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Akela (2006)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Akela.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 1999 | 12 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1996 | 27 |
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1994 | 26 |
| 1993 | 24 |
| 1992 | 19 |
| 1991 | 20 |
| 1990 | 20 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 10 |
| 1986 | 13 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1984 | 9 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 14 |
| 1981 | 9 |
| 1980 | 11 |
| 1979 | 12 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1977 | 9 |
| 1975 | 5 |