Declining since 1985, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Karri since 1953
Babies named Karri per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 162 |
| 1960s | 1,138 |
| 1970s | 1,692 |
| 1980s | 910 |
| 1990s | 345 |
| 2000s | 109 |
| 2010s | 82 |
| 2020s | 55 |
Meaning & origin
Karri emerged in American naming records in 1953, part of a mid-century trend of softening masculine names with an -i or -ie suffix (like Kelli, Tami, or Stacy). Its highest visibility came in the 1970s: the 1976 peak year saw it rank 10,917th, a modest showing among the decade's many novel feminizations. After 1985 the name entered a steady decline, and by 2025 it occurs at a 1-in-200,908 rate, placing it well outside the top 10,000. The trajectory reflects the broader shift away from these particular -i feminizations; unlike Kari or Kerry, Karri never achieved broad geographic spread, recording no top states. Its etymology ties back to Gary, itself a 20th-century masculine staple, giving Karri a concrete if derivative origin story typical of its era.
Karri is an English feminine given name, likely a variant of Kerry (from the Irish county name) or a feminization of Gary. Gary derives from Gareth (Welsh 'gentle') or Gerald (Old German 'spear ruler'). The name saw modest use in mid-20th century America, peaking in 1976.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kar, Kari
Sibling names for Karri
Names that share Karri's style, for a brother or sister.
