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Home › Baby Names Directory › Askari

Askari

♂ Boy

Pronounced ah-SKAR-ee /ɑˈskɑr.i/Medium

Meaning: From the Swahili/Arabic askari, 'a soldier; a guard; a sentinel'; a word-name; we note the word-nameLow

In 30 seconds: A soldier; a guard: Askari is Swahili/Arabic. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'ah-SKAR-ee').
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Origin LowSwahili, Arabic
MeaningFrom the Swahili/Arabic askari, 'a soldier; a guard; a sentinel'; a word-name; we note the word-name
U.S. rank (2025)#5227 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births18 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 285

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619932025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Askari comes from the Swahili/Arabic askari, 'a soldier; a guard; a sentinel'; a word-name (we note the word-name). A crisp, classic name (said 'ah-SKAR-ee').

In the U.S. it appears in East African and African-American families. Rare, a-soldier at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Askari means 'a soldier; a guard; a sentinel' in Swahili/Arabic — a crisp word-name (we note the word-name; said 'ah-SKAR-ee').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Askari — Swahili word-name

Variations

AskarAskarii

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Askari…

Jabari— a sound-neighbor Swahili -ari boys' name
Amari— a fellow -ari boys' name
Kamari— a companion -ari boys' name
Ahmari— echoes that soft -ri sound
Ahmiri— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Askari

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Askari mean?

Askari is Swahili/Arabic for 'a soldier; a guard; a sentinel'. We note the word-name.

How do you pronounce Askari?

It's said ah-SKAR-ee /ɑˈskɑr.i/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Askari a boy or girl name?

Askari is a boy's name.

How popular is Askari?

Askari is a very rare name in the U.S.

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