Declining since 2019, #1,040 for girls today.
Popularity of Kairi since 1974
Babies named Kairi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 33 |
| 1980s | 5 | 19 |
| 1990s | 0 | 52 |
| 2000s | 1,234 | 83 |
| 2010s | 3,333 | 157 |
| 2020s | 1,684 | 225 |
Meaning & origin
Kairi is a name of multiple potential origins, most notably Japanese and Irish, though its exact derivation is uncertain. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1980, and saw a significant rise in the 2000s and 2010s, peaking in 2019 at a rank well within the top 1000. Since then, its popularity has been falling, but it remains a distinctive choice, especially in Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah, where it was most common in recent years. The name's association with the Kingdom Hearts video game series has likely contributed to its modern usage, though its roots may be older and cross-cultural.
Kairi has multiple possible origins. In Japanese, it can be written with characters meaning "sea" (海) and "village" (里), or other combinations. Alternatively, it may be a modern respelling of the Irish name Keira (from Ciara, meaning "dark-haired"). In the United States, it emerged as a given name in the late 20th century and gained popularity in the 2000s, likely influenced by its use in the video game series Kingdom Hearts.
Where Kairi is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kai, Kiki
Sibling names for Kairi
Names that share Kairi's style, for a brother or sister.
