>
Across the world, 明石 (Akashi , 明石 ) is quite a common epicene first name. The first name 明石 is characteristic of India, where it is a rare principally feminine, but very infrequently male name, Indonesia, where it is a rare largely boy's, but seldom feminine name, and China, where it is a rare predominantly masculine, but very seldom girly name. Very seldom, 明石 is the last name as well as the forename.
明石 is also a name for the fictitious and mythical characters: Akashi no kimi , the fictional character from The Tale of Genji; Akashi no himegimi , the fictional character from The Tale of Genji; Akashi no Nyūdō , the fictional character from The Tale of Genji and Akashi no Amagimi , the fictional character from The Tale of Genji.