is a feminine Japanese given name. Possible writings The kanji characters ("sparkle"), ("bright"), and ("autumn") are three variations of ways to write "aki", and the character is a common suffix in female given names in Japan. In Japanese the character ("ko") means "child". The name can be written many different ways, and has different meanings depending on which kanji is used for "aki" (as well as the hiragana and katakana). Some variations of Akiko include: 亜妃子 ("Asia, queen, child") 安希子 ("peaceful, hope, child") 明子 ("bright, child") 充子 ("provide, child") 上子 ("superior, above, child") 暁子 ("dawn, child") Notable people Princess Akiko of Mikasa (彬子女王), member of the Japanese Imperial Family , Japanese announcer and actress , Japanese cross-country skier , Japanese speed skater Akiko Domoto (堂本 暁子), former governor of Chiba Prefecture, Japan , Japanese long jumper Akiko Futaba (二葉 あき子, 1915-2011), Japanese Ryūkōka singer Akiko Hasegawa (長谷川 明子), Japanese voice actress and singer , Japanese ice hockey player Akiko Hinagata (雛形あきこ), Japanese actress, television talent, and former gravure idol , Japanese voice actress Akiko Ikuina (生稲 晃子), Japanese actress, singer, tarento, and politician , Japanese writer Akiko Iwamoto (岩本 亜希子, born 1978), Japanese rower who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics Akiko Kamei (亀井 亜紀子), Japanese politician of the People's New Party, and a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet , Japanese field hockey player , Japanese tennis player Akiko Kobayashi (singer) (小林明子), a Japanese singer, composer, arranger, and songwriter Akiko Kobayashi (voice actor) (小林 晃子), voice actress and singer from Japan Akiko Kojima (児島 明子), a Japanese actress and the first Miss Universe to come from Asia , Japanese actress , Japanese television personality and actress Akiko Matsuo (松尾 亜紀子, born 1964), Japanese engineer Akiko Matsuura, singer and drummer from Osaka, Japan who plays for the British bands; The Big Pink, Comanechi, and Pre , Japanese javelin thrower , Japanese badminton player Akiko Monō (桃生 亜希子), an actress and model from Japan , Japanese tennis player , Japanese ice hockey player Akiko Nakagawa (born 1973), Japanese voice actress , Japanese shogi player Akiko Nishina (仁科亜希子), Japanese actress , Japanese women's footballer Akiko Shiga (志賀 暁子, 19101990), Japanese actress Akiko Shikata (志方あきこ), Japanese composer and singer-songwriter Akiko Suwanai (諏訪内 晶子), Japanese classical violinist Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 明子), Japanese figure skater Akiko Takojima, professional shogi player Akiko Tsuruga (敦賀明子), jazz keyboard musician, composer, organist, and pianist from Osaka