Is Kari a boy's or girl's name?

Kari is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 908 recorded births.

When was Kari most popular?

Kari reached its peak popularity in 1975 with 2,221 births that year. It is currently ranked #1841 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Kari?

Kari is currently ranked #1841 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 59,607 babies since 1934.

Kari

A Swedish name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysSwedishDeclining Also a pet name

#1841▼ 74in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Swedish, of recent usage, equivalent to English Carrie or Cary.

Kari is a girl's and boy's baby name of Swedish origin, a Scandinavian form of Katherine or a diminutive of names like Karen, from the Greek Aikaterine possibly meaning 'pure.' Kari is widely used in Norway, Sweden, and Finland as a classic feminine name.

Over 59,600 U.S. births are recorded — making it one of the more frequently used names in this session. Kari had its American peak in the 1960s-80s, when Scandinavian-American families embraced it alongside Karen and Kara. It has a clean, Nordic freshness.

Compare Kari with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kari was #1439 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1841, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kari
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	636	#1653	▼
2010s	1,166	#1795	▼
2000s	1,800	#1313	▼
1990s	6,315	#461	▼
1980s	17,544	#164	—
1970s	18,754	#156	▲
1960s	10,972	#270	▲
1950s	2,238	#870	▲
1940s	157	#2769	▲
1930s	25	#3950	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(89 years, 1934–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kari
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	109	#1841	-7 (-6.0%)
2023	116	#1767	-14 (-10.8%)
2022	130	#1630	-6 (-4.4%)
2021	136	#1547	-9 (-6.2%)
2020	145	#1480	+4 (2.8%)
2019	141	#1534	+2 (1.4%)
2018	139	#1558	+7 (5.3%)
2017	132	#1640	+31 (30.7%)
2016	101	#1979	-13 (-11.4%)
2015	114	#1825	+3 (2.7%)
2014	111	#1832	-2 (-1.8%)
2013	113	#1811	+1 (0.9%)
2012	112	#1816	+23 (25.8%)
2011	89	#2150	-25 (-21.9%)
2010	114	#1803	-15 (-11.6%)
2009	129	#1714	-6 (-4.4%)
2008	135	#1660	-15 (-10.0%)
2007	150	#1533	-15 (-9.1%)
2006	165	#1384	+6 (3.8%)
2005	159	#1363	+16 (11.2%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Kari as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Kari has also been given to 908 boys in the U.S. since 1956.

#2846

Current rank

908

Total births

2024

Peak year

Compare Kari as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Kari be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Kari is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1841. As a boy's name, it ranks #2846.

Kari has two lives

Kari, the baby name

#1841girls

59,607 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1934–2024) · Methodology