Fun Facts About the Name Seri
- 193 babies named Seri: U.S. records list 193 babies given the name Seri from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Seri Mean?
Seri has more than one independent origin, so it carries more than one meaning. The most widely documented is the Malay and Indonesian word seri, meaning radiance, beauty, glory, or splendour. That word was borrowed from Sanskrit śrī (श्री), which refers to light, prosperity, and beauty and is also an epithet of the goddess Lakshmi. In Malay, seri is used both as an element in personal names and as part of honorific titles.
In Japanese, Seri is a feminine given name, usually written 芹, the word for water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica), an edible marsh herb. It can also be written with other characters, such as 瀬里, combining 瀬 (shallows, rapids) with 里 (village). These readings are native to Japanese naming and are not related to the Malay word.
In Korean, Seri (세리) is a feminine name often romanized as Se-ri. Because it can be written with different hanja, it does not have one fixed meaning in Korean. In English, the spelling also appears as a short form of longer names such as Serena and Seraphina.
Seri Name History & Origins
The Sanskrit śrī travelled with Hindu and Buddhist culture into Southeast Asia and was absorbed into Old Malay as seri. In Malay court and administrative usage, the word became an honorific attached to rulers and titles - among them the royal style Seri Paduka and the Malaysian honorifics Dato' Seri and Tan Sri. Alongside that official use, the word entered ordinary naming practice in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, where it appears in female given names. The related spelling Sri is the more usual form in South Asian languages, but the two go back to the same Sanskrit source.
In Japan, 芹 (water dropwort) is one of the seven herbs of spring, haru no nanakusa, traditionally cooked into rice porridge on the seventh day of the first month, and it appears in classical poetry as a spring plant. The plant name was adopted as a woman's given name, with alternative writings such as 瀬里 used as well.
Korean usage of Se-ri is independent of both the Malay and Japanese names. It is given to women and written with a range of hanja chosen by the family, so the same sound can carry different meanings from person to person. A well-known bearer is the golfer Pak Se-ri.
In English-speaking countries, Seri is encountered mainly as a shortened form of longer names and as a transliteration of the Malay, Japanese, and Korean names. The spelling is shared across these unrelated traditions, but they developed separately.
How Popular is the Name Seri?
Seri 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 2007. Its best rank was #3,917 in 1953.
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 | #16,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #10,129 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #12,015 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #9,569 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #14,975 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #18,041 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #12,826 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #12,969 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #16,526 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #13,169 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #11,117 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #11,332 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #12,426 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #10,702 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #14,877 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #18,681 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #17,922 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #17,121 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #16,122 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #13,412 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #13,066 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #14,789 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #9,477 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #5,128 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,917 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #6,276 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #5,159 | 6 | 0.0004% |
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 Seri Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
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.
✦ Seri's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Seri's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.