The story behind Kari
From Norwegian Kari, diminutive of Katrine.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Finnish entry
Karelian form of the Russian saint's name Макарий (Makarij), Макар (Makar), from Ancient Greek Μακάριος (Makários) meaning "happy", cognate to the English historical name Macarius. Also a short form of Sakari and Oskari. Kari became known as a character in Juhani Aho's novel Panu (1897), at the time, like Panu and Jorma, mistaken for an ancient Finnish name.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkɑː.ɹi/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈkæ.ɹi/
- Finnish: /ˈkɑri/
- Finnish: [ˈkɑ̝ri]
Popularity
Kari ranked #2087 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Kari
Kali
From Sanskrit काली (kālī) or कालिका (kālikā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Koji
Borrowed from Japanese こうじ (Kōji). Borrowed from Hepburn romaji of Japanese こうじ (Kōji).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Arsi
Karelian form of the Russian saints' name Арсений (Arsenij), ultimately from Ancient Greek Ἀρσένιος (Arsénios). Cognate with the English historical name Arsenius.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Davi
From Old Galician-Portuguese Davi, from Latin Dāvīd, from Ancient Greek Δαυῑ̈́δ (Dauī̈́d), from Biblical Hebrew דָּוִד (dāwiḏ). Doublet of David and Deivid.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Delphi
Borrowed from Latin Delphi.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Idzi
Derived from Latin Aegīdius.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Kari
Jan
From Old French Jehan (“John”). Doublet of John. Czech Jan Inherited from Old Czech Jan, borrowed from Latin Iōannēs. From Middle Dutch jan, from Latin Iōhannēs, from Ancient…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Job
From Latin Iob, from Ancient Greek Ἰώβ (Iṓb), from Biblical Hebrew אִיּוֹב (ʾiyyōḇ), related to אָיַב (ʾāyaḇ, “to be an enemy”) and אוֹיֵב (ʾōyēḇ, “enemy”). Ultimately from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends B
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Kai
Taken into regular use in the 1990s, with earlier popularity peaks in Scandinavia and Germany. The medieval Danish Kaj is possibly of Roman origin, Latinized as Caius, like the…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Kari
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adam
Middle English Adam English Adam From Middle English Adam, from Old English Adam, from Latin Adam, Adamus, from Ancient Greek Ἀδάμ (Adám), Ἄδαμος (Ádamos), from Biblical Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ajax
From Latin Aiāx, from Ancient Greek Αἴᾱς (Aíās).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends X
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection