unisex name · in the US
Kari
KAR-ee (English)
- Origin Scandinavian
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 61,318
Kari descends from the same unexplained Greek root as Kaitlin in this group, but by a Scandinavian route — through Karen and Katarina rather than through Irish, and the pure gloss is equally unproven on both paths.
- Kari is a name of Scandinavian origin.
- Peaked in 1975, when 2,243 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 29,340 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1934.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Kari Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1930s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 25 |
| 1940s | 157 |
| 1950s | 2,271 |
| 1960s | 11,056 |
| 1970s | 18,917 |
| 1980s | 17,681 |
| 1990s | 6,409 |
| 2000s | 1,871 |
| 2010s | 1,297 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 943 |
What Kari Means
Kari means pure by convention, carried from Katherine. The gloss attaches to a Greek original that has never been securely derived, so the meaning is inherited rather than established.
Where Kari Comes From
Kari is a Scandinavian short form of Katarina, itself from Catherine and the Greek Aikaterine, which has no secure derivation — the pure reading comes from a later association with katharos, clean. Norwegian and Danish use it independently of the fuller form. A separate Norse Kári, a wind spirit and a figure in Njáls saga, is a different name with a long i, and American use of Kari has generally followed the Katherine line rather than that one.
Kari in Use
Kari peaked in the United States in 1975, when 2,243 babies were registered, and it is reviving. It charts in exactly one market, at 2,096th in the United States on 113 births, across 61,318 lifetime births. It is on record from 1934, and Scotland ran a small local peak of 13 births in 1980.
How Popular Is Kari?
In 2025, Kari was given to 113 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Kari Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Kari
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Kari Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Kari over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Kari is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 80% girls · 1,543 babies
- Canada Girls' 100% girls · 52 babies
How to Say Kari
- English KAR-ee /ˈkɑːɹ.i/
Kari in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Kari
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Kari — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Kari
What does the name Kari mean?
Pure by convention, through Katarina and Catherine — a gloss attached to an unexplained root.
Is Kari related to Karen?
Yes, both are Scandinavian short forms of Katarina.
Is there a Norse Kari?
A separate Kári, a wind spirit in Njáls saga, has a long i and is a different name.
Is Kari coming back?
It is reviving, at 2,096th in the United States.
How popular is the name Kari?
In 2025, Kari was given to 113 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Kari a girl's or a boy's name?
Kari is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Kari?
Kari has 2 syllables.
When was Kari most popular?
Kari peaked in 1975, when 2,243 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Kari a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Kari currently ranks #2,096 in the United States. After peaking in the 1970s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.