Kari

Updated: January 31, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Kari is one of the many spellings of the popular name Carrie (or Kerry, Cari, Karrie, etc.). Ultimately, it's most likely a derivative of Katherine or Catherine, though it could also be a nickname of Caroline. This particular spelling was quite popular during the second half of the 20th century, and it's particularly popular in Nordic countries. Even though it fell out of favor in the United States in 2002, K names are in right now, so it could easily make a comeback, especially if paired with a current middle name, like Olivia or Luna.

Meaning of the name Kari:

Greek: Pure
German: Free man

Origin of the name Kari:

Kari is most likely a derivative of Katherine. Katherine is a name with Greek origins that means “pure.” It could also be a nickname or derivative of Caroline, which is a feminine form of Charles, and it means “free man.”

Symbolism of the name Kari:

Because of its meaning, new parents may see Kari as a symbol of purity and innocence.

Style of the name Kari:

Modern

Gender of the name Kari:

Boys/Girls though more common for girls

Pronunciation of the name Kari:

KARE-ee

Number of syllables in the name Kari:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Kari:

The baby name Kari evokes images of someone who is sweet and cheerful.

Alternative spellings for the name Kari:

Carrie
Kerry
Kary
Karrie
Cari

Nicknames for the name Kari:

Kar
Riri

Popularity of the name Kari:

According to the Social Security Administration, Kari was a top 1,000 baby name for girls in the United States between 1953 and 2002. It was most popular in 1976 when it ranked at number 127. It last ranked at number 2002 in 975.