What's in a Name?

Our goal was to choose a name as is traditionally done in Japan where individual characters have meaning, that is symbolic of values the parents may hold and that they wish to pass on to their children. At the same time we desired a name that would work phonetically in English.

The first character represents the sound “ah” and comes from the word akarui. Akarui literally means radiant as when the rays of the sun illuminate a dark recess, but when used to characterize an individual it is not a description of luminosity but rather disposition. In this context it refers to someone who is cheerful and positive and otherwise upbeat and fun to be around—in other words a radiant individual.

The second character “ki” represents the word tree, but this is not the character used for just any tree one might encounter but a special tree that instills a sense of amazement when one enters the presence of that tree. Think of the old-growth forests on the western coast of Washington or the beech trees at the northern end of Japan’s main island and imagine being in the presence of one of the most majestic of these trees. This second character reflects our special love for natural areas and wilderness river valleys that instill a sense of power and awe, while fulfilling our spiritual and emotional needs.

Phonetically the word aki in Japanese, as represented by a different set of characters, also represents autumn, the time of year when our child was born.