Rising since 1994, #3,975 for girls today.
Popularity of Airi since 1993
Babies named Airi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 61 |
| 2010s | 168 |
| 2020s | 153 |
Meaning & origin
Airi is a modern Japanese name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1993. As of 2025, it ranks 3975th, with approximately 1 in 44,646 newborn girls receiving the name. The name has been consistently rising since 1994, reflecting growing interest in Japanese culture and names outside Japan. Its peak in popularity occurred in 2025, suggesting continued upward momentum. California is the top state for Airi, aligning with the trend of multicultural naming in diverse regions. The name's appeal lies in its melodic sound and the flexibility of kanji meanings, allowing parents to choose characters that convey personal significance, such as love, jasmine, or apricot.
The name Airi is a modern Japanese compound name, typically formed from two kanji characters. The first element is often 愛 (ai) meaning 'love', 'affection', or 藍 (ai) meaning 'indigo'. The second element can be 莉 (ri) meaning 'jasmine' (used phonetically), 梨 (ri) meaning 'pear', 杏 (an) meaning 'apricot', or 理 (ri) meaning 'reason', 'logic'. As a given name, Airi gained popularity in Japan from the late 20th century onward, reflecting a trend of combining meaningful kanji with soft, feminine sounds. The name has also been adopted by non-Japanese families due to its pleasant sound and simplicity.
Where Airi is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ai, Airi-chan, Ri-chan
Sibling names for Airi
Names that share Airi's style, for a brother or sister.
