Kauri Name Meaning, Origins & History

Kauri

Pronunciation: KOW-ree

Meaning Forest tree Origin Polynesian Gender Girl
BOYS RANK
#11,348
TREND
1,858

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Kauri in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Kauri

  • 156 babies named Kauri: U.S. records list 156 babies given the name Kauri from 1880 through 2025. Even 32 boys received the name Kauri - about 1 boy for every 4 girls.

What Does the Name Kauri Mean?

Kauri is a Māori word and the name of a large evergreen conifer, Agathis australis, native to the northern North Island of New Zealand. In Māori it names the tree itself; its identifiable sense is the plant, not a separate phrase with a different translation. In New Zealand English the same word also refers to the tree's timber, and kauri gum is the resin the tree produces.

Kauri Name History & Origins

The kauri tree grows in the forests of northern New Zealand and was long known to Māori, who used its timber and its resin, called kāpia. European colonization in the 19th century brought intensive logging and gum digging to the northern North Island, and the Māori word entered English as the tree's common name.

As a given name, Kauri is taken directly from the tree name. It is a word name rather than a diminutive or variant of an older European name. In New Zealand, Kauri is used as a given name and keeps the Māori spelling of the tree word.

How Popular is the Name Kauri?

Kauri has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2015. Its best rank was #9,923 in 2021.

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.

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 Kauri Shapes Your Personality and Life?

EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Kauri's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kauri's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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