Kari is a unisex given name and surname of multiple origins.
Given name In Finland, Kari is a male name, which was particularly popular in the 1940s and 1950s. The name is derived from the Greek Makarios (or Macarius).
In Norway, Kari is a female name. The name is diminutive of Katherine, meaning "pure". The corresponding Swedish and German name is Karin.
In Iceland and Faroe Islands, Kári is a male name, based on a Scandinavian god of wind of the same name. The corresponding Norwegian male name is Kåre.
In Japan, Kari is also used as a phonetic transcription of the pronunciations 果里, 華梨, and 嘉理, and is mainly used as a female name.
Surname
Kari is a popular surname in South India. In Andhra Pradesh the village of Karivari Palem is named after the surname; in the village Inkollu, Gangavaram almost 60% families have this surname and belongs to Kamma/Chowdary caste. Kari can also be spelt Kahri.
Kari is also a Finnish surname, meaning a small island, islet, or an underwater rock. There are currently 2 173 holders of the name (2025).
Notable people named Kari
Females with the given name
Kari Aas (1886–1978), Norwegian teacher and Scout leader Kari Anderson (born 1982), Scottish cricketer Kari Sofie Bjørnsen (born 1967), Norwegian politician Kari Bøge (born 1950), Norwegian author Kari Bremnes (born 1956), Norwegian singer Kari Buen (1938–2025), Norwegian sculptor Kari Byron (born 1974), American television host and artist Kari Corbett (born 1984), Scottish actress Kari Diesen (1914–1987), Norwegian singer and actress Kari Dolan, American politician Kari Dziedzic (1962–2024), American politician Kari Faux (born 1992), American rapper and singer, born Kari Rose Johnson Kari Aalvik Grimsbø (born 1985), Norwegian handball player Kari Jobe (born 1981), American singer Kari Mette Johansen (born 1979), Norwegian handball player Kari Kjønaas Kjos (born 1962), Norwegian politician Kari Ann Lake (born 1969), American politician and former television news anchor Kari Lerner, American politician Kari Matchett (born 1970), Canadian actress Kari Nissena, American actress Kari Ann Peniche (born 1984), American model Kari Rueslåtten (born 1973), Norwegian singer Kari Baadstrand Sandnes (born 1969), Norwegian politician Kari Schibevaag (born 1978), Norwegian kiteboarder Kari Storækre (born 1950), Norwegian television personality Kari Swenson (born 1962), American biathlete Kari Sylwan (born 1940), Swedish actress, ballerina and choreographer Kari Tauring (born 1966), American folk singer, author, and teacher Kari Traa (born 1974), Norwegian skier Kari Wahlgren (born 1977), American voice actress Kari Wuhrer (born 1967), American actress
Males with the given name
Kari Arkivuo (born 1983), Finnish footballer Kari Aronpuro (born 1940), Finnish poet Kari Eloranta (born 1956), Finnish footballer and ice hockey player Kari Enqvist (born 1954), Finnish physicist and writer Kari Hotakainen (born 1957), Finnish writer Kári P. Højgaard (born 1951), Faroese politician Kari Häkämies (born 1956), Finnish politician Kari Härkönen (born 1959), Finnish skier Kari Jalonen (born 1960), Finnish ice hockey coach Kari Kairamo (1932–1988), former CEO of Nokia Kari Kantalainen (born 1947), Finnish business executive and politician Kari Ketonen (born 1971), Finnish actor Kari Korhonen (born 1973), Finnish cartoonist Kari Korhonen (born 1943), Finnish mycologist Kari Kriikku (born 1960), Finnish clarinet player Kari Kuivalainen (born 1960), Finnish musician Kari Lehtola (1938–2019), Finnish major accident investigator Kari Lehtonen (born 1983), Finnish ice hockey goaltender Kari Makkonen (born 1955), Finnish ice hockey player Kari Mannerla (1930–2006), Finnish game designer Kari Mäkinen (born 1955), Archbishop of Turku Kari Peitsamo (born 1957), Finnish musician Kari Rajamäki (born 1948), Finnish politician Kari Ristanen (born 1958), Finnish skier Kári Stefánsson (born 1949), Icelandic founder of deCODE genetics Kari Suomalainen (1920–1999), Finnish cartoonist Kari Takko (born 1962), Finnish ice hockey goaltender Kari Tapio (1945–2010), Finnish singer Kari Tiainen (born 1966), Finnish motorcycle rider Kari S. Tikka (1944–2006), Finnish legal scholar Kari Turunen (born 1962), Finnish musician Kari Ukkonen (born 1961), Finnish footballer Kari Uotila (1955), Finnish politician Kari Väänänen (1953), Finnish actor and director Kari Ylianttila (1953), Finnish ski-jumper
People with the surname Dagur Kári (born 1973), Icelandic filmmaker Ehsan Kari (born 2002), Malagasy footballer Jarkko Kari (born 1964), Finnish mathematician Kaarina Kari (1888–1982), Finnish physician, gymnastics teacher and writer Martti J. Kari (1960–2023), Finnish military officer and academic Mika Kari (born 1967), Finnish politician Sax Kari (born Isaac Toombs, 1920–2009), American R&B musician and promoter Tamla Kari (born 1988), British actress Tommi Kari (born 1986), Finnish footballer Yannis Kari (born 2000), Comorian footballer
People with the nickname Sundaram Karivardhan (1954–1995), Indian motor sports promoter
Fictional and mythological characters Kári, son of Fornjót, the personification of wind in Norse mythology Kari Grandi, Finnish advertising character Hikari "Kari" Kamiya, a character in Digimon media Kari Nordmann, Norwegian placeholder name Kari Sorjonen, main character in Bordertown, a Finnish crime drama TV series
See also
Cari (name) Kali (name) Karie (name) Karli (name) Karri (name)
References