Given name & surname
Kari
“of the wind”·“one with curly hair”
Kari is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “of the wind” and “one with curly hair”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “of the wind” and “one with curly hair”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
In Finnish use, Kari is a short form of Sakari. An origin associated with Sakari is Native American. In English use, Kari is a diminutive of Katrine. An origin associated with Katrine is Irish Gaelic.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Spanish usage, Kari is a diminutive of Karina. In Finnish usage, Kari developed from Μακάριος.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1934. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Kari is a form of Katherine. The history of Katherine gives this family its wider story. Katherine’s historical associations include Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henry II and regent.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Kari through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 60,627
- 931 boys · 59,696 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 2,243 babies
- 2025
- 113
- #2,087 for girls · #4,470 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 20% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 90 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,087 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,221 in 1975. It also appeared in 23 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Ohio and Texas shared the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (11 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 55,005 as a first name in 2020; 901 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kari’s family of names
In Spanish usage, Kari is a diminutive of Karina. In Finnish usage, Kari developed from the Ancient Greek form Μακάριος. Kari is a form of Karen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kari has relatives in 19 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
26 related names in 19 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 21
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Kari
- Kari WahlgrenAmerican voice actressborn 1977
- Kari Byrontelevision host, artist, ''MythBusters'' build team memberborn 1974
- Kari WuhrerAmerican actress (b. 1967)
- Kari HotakainenFinnish writerborn 1957
- Kari Aalvik GrimsbøNorwegian female handball goalkeeperborn 1985
- Kari TraaNorwegian freestyle skierborn 1974
- Kari Mette Johansenhandball playerborn 1979
- Kari Brattset DaleNorwegian handball playerborn 1991
- Kari ArkivuoFinnish footballer (b.1983)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kari, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Coningsby
“king's” · “farm, town”
—
Sigourney
“a woman who conquers” · “a daring queen”
>99% girls
Estrid
“one with divine strength” · “fair”
>99% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Katy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Candace
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Candice
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls