Fun Facts About the Name Nori
- More than 3 thousand babies named Nori: U.S. records list 3,270 babies given the name Nori from 1880 through 2025. Even 244 boys received the name Nori - about 1 boy for every 12 girls.
What Does the Name Nori Mean?
Nori has two independent origins. In Japanese, Nori (のり) is a name element that can stand alone or end a longer name, as in Noriko or Kazunori. Japanese names are written with kanji, so the meaning depends on the character chosen: 則 ("rule, law"), 典 ("ceremony, code"), 紀 ("chronicle"), 規 ("standard"), 範 ("model, pattern"), 法 ("law, method"), 教 ("teachings"), 憲 ("constitution"), and 儀 ("ceremony, rite") are among the characters read nori. The most common sense is "rule" or "law."
In Old Norse, Nóri is the name of a dwarf, and the original meaning of that name is not securely known. It is also used today as a masculine given name in Norway.
In English-speaking use, Nori can be a short form of names such as Honora, Nora, and Eleanor; in that case it carries the meaning of whichever longer name it shortens rather than a meaning of its own. The Japanese name has also been borrowed directly into English use.
Nori Name History & Origins
The Japanese element nori has been used in personal names for many centuries, and because the same sound can be written with many different kanji, two people named Nori may have entirely different written meanings. A one-character name such as Nori is often a shortening of a longer name, but it is also given on its own.
The Old Norse Nóri is recorded in medieval Icelandic sources: it is one of the dwarfs listed in the Dvergatal, the catalogue of dwarfs in the Eddic poem Völuspá, and it also appears in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda and in the traditional poetic name-lists known as þulur. The name continues in Norwegian use as a masculine given name.
J. R. R. Tolkien took many dwarf names from the Dvergatal for The Hobbit (1937), where Nori is one of the twelve dwarves in Thorin's company. That modern literary use is much later than the medieval record; the name itself was not created by the novel.
How Popular is the Name Nori?
Nori recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2023. Its best rank was #903 in 2023.
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 | #1,196 | 193 | 0.0120% |
| 2024 | #1,013 | 251 | 0.0156% |
| 2023 | #903 | 296 | 0.0185% |
| 2022 | #933 | 290 | 0.0177% |
| 2021 | #1,013 | 252 | 0.0154% |
| 2020 | #1,174 | 198 | 0.0123% |
| 2019 | #1,035 | 249 | 0.0148% |
| 2018 | #1,397 | 161 | 0.0095% |
| 2017 | #1,472 | 153 | 0.0089% |
| 2016 | #1,392 | 168 | 0.0095% |
| 2015 | #1,605 | 134 | 0.0075% |
| 2014 | #1,966 | 102 | 0.0057% |
| 2013 | #4,853 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #10,241 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #7,043 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2010 | #8,188 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #6,747 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #9,929 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #7,652 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #7,763 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #12,705 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #9,733 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #9,533 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2002 | #9,314 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #10,774 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #9,689 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #16,167 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #10,860 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #15,444 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #11,416 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #11,346 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #14,714 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #12,450 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #11,882 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #7,519 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #10,830 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #8,082 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #9,976 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,200 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #8,782 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #7,126 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #7,430 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #6,705 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #8,882 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #5,843 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #6,094 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #5,461 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #4,464 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #5,403 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #5,689 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,948 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #7,835 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,530 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #6,344 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #5,161 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #4,553 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #3,965 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #3,126 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #3,151 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #3,637 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #3,573 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #3,872 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #4,119 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #2,906 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #3,521 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #5,017 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #4,150 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #5,127 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,632 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2024 | #4,817 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2023 | #4,426 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2022 | #4,396 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #4,455 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #3,625 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2019 | #5,102 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2018 | #5,713 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #7,407 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #6,607 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #8,520 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #6,528 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #13,453 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2001 | #11,812 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Nori Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Nori's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nori's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.