Fun Facts About the Name Cari
- More than 12 thousand babies named Cari: U.S. records list 12,870 babies given the name Cari from 1880 through 2025. Even 113 boys received the name Cari - about 1 boy for every 113 girls.
What Does the Name Cari Mean?
Cari is a feminine given name with two commonly cited derivations. In Welsh, it is connected with the verb caru, "to love," and the noun cariad, "love" or "beloved." On that derivation, the name means "beloved" or "love." It belongs with other Welsh names formed from the same root, such as Carys. In English, Cari is often a variant spelling of Carrie, a familiar form of Caroline. Caroline is the feminine form of Charles, which comes from the Germanic name Karl and a root meaning "free man." The English-line meaning is therefore usually given as "free man," though in use as a feminine name it is sometimes interpreted as "free" or "strong." These are independent derivations: the Welsh name does not come from Caroline, and the English variant does not come from Welsh.
Cari Name History & Origins
In Wales, Cari is a short feminine name based on the Welsh root car-, "love." It is related to cariad, a common Welsh word for "love" or "beloved," and to the verb caru, "to love." Welsh has a long practice of forming personal names from affectionate vocabulary, and Cari fits that pattern as a pet form or diminutive. It is used in Wales alongside Carys, another name from the same root.
In English, Cari developed chiefly as a variant spelling of Carrie. Carrie began as a diminutive of Caroline, a feminine form of Charles. Charles entered English from French, ultimately from the Germanic name Karl, which is derived from a word meaning "free man." Caroline was used in the English-speaking world, and its short forms include Carrie, Carry, and Cari. The spelling Cari is a variant that distinguishes the name visually while keeping the familiar pronunciation.
Because the Welsh name and the English variant overlap in spelling and, in American English, often in pronunciation, a particular Cari may reflect either tradition. The Welsh derivation is associated with the meaning "beloved," while the English derivation carries the etymological sense "free man" from Charles.
How Popular is the Name Cari?
Cari recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1976. Its best rank was #380 in 1976.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,580 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #5,815 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #4,894 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #3,901 | 38 | 0.0023% |
| 2021 | #4,034 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #4,466 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #5,641 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #4,906 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2017 | #4,949 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2016 | #6,025 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2015 | #5,155 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #6,026 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #4,674 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #5,135 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #4,708 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2010 | #6,222 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #9,504 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #5,602 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #6,366 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #7,213 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #5,631 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #5,240 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2003 | #3,959 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2002 | #5,487 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,561 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2000 | #3,034 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1999 | #2,535 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1998 | #2,312 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 1997 | #2,047 | 69 | 0.0040% |
| 1996 | #1,577 | 99 | 0.0056% |
| 1995 | #1,509 | 104 | 0.0059% |
| 1994 | #1,061 | 171 | 0.0096% |
| 1993 | #1,079 | 169 | 0.0093% |
| 1992 | #1,146 | 154 | 0.0084% |
| 1991 | #1,012 | 182 | 0.0097% |
| 1990 | #962 | 195 | 0.0103% |
| 1989 | #797 | 239 | 0.0130% |
| 1988 | #685 | 280 | 0.0157% |
| 1987 | #676 | 273 | 0.0157% |
| 1986 | #702 | 258 | 0.0150% |
| 1985 | #661 | 274 | 0.0159% |
| 1984 | #633 | 278 | 0.0165% |
| 1983 | #597 | 297 | 0.0178% |
| 1982 | #508 | 396 | 0.0234% |
| 1981 | #447 | 480 | 0.0288% |
| 1980 | #622 | 293 | 0.0176% |
| 1979 | #540 | 348 | 0.0217% |
| 1978 | #469 | 421 | 0.0275% |
| 1977 | #439 | 466 | 0.0304% |
| 1976 | #380 | 541 | 0.0369% |
| 1975 | #393 | 519 | 0.0356% |
| 1974 | #414 | 477 | 0.0325% |
| 1973 | #451 | 407 | 0.0279% |
| 1972 | #469 | 387 | 0.0254% |
| 1971 | #463 | 436 | 0.0262% |
| 1970 | #473 | 430 | 0.0246% |
| 1969 | #470 | 420 | 0.0249% |
| 1968 | #477 | 405 | 0.0247% |
| 1967 | #522 | 326 | 0.0197% |
| 1966 | #592 | 256 | 0.0151% |
| 1965 | #653 | 226 | 0.0128% |
| 1964 | #628 | 261 | 0.0138% |
| 1963 | #649 | 242 | 0.0126% |
| 1962 | #664 | 235 | 0.0119% |
| 1961 | #742 | 196 | 0.0097% |
| 1960 | #740 | 189 | 0.0093% |
| 1959 | #812 | 159 | 0.0079% |
| 1958 | #1,008 | 106 | 0.0053% |
| 1957 | #1,067 | 95 | 0.0046% |
| 1956 | #1,273 | 67 | 0.0033% |
| 1955 | #1,739 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1954 | #2,030 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1953 | #2,307 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #2,589 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,823 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #5,392 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,212 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #5,326 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1941 | #4,491 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,901 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #12,604 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #9,048 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #8,422 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #7,110 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #8,318 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #12,478 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #12,595 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #7,076 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #6,502 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #6,406 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #4,913 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #5,963 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #4,025 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #4,209 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,037 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #4,120 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #4,065 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Cari Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Cari's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Cari's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.