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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dakari

Dakari

♀ Girl

Pronounced duh-KAR-ee /dəˈkɑr.i/Medium

Meaning: A modern name often listed with a Shona (Zimbabwean) sense of 'joy; happiness,' though this attribution is not well documented and it is likely an American coinage in the Makari/Dakota sound family. It leans to boys in U.S. use, which we note. Routes uncertain.Low

In 30 seconds: A modern name often glossed as 'joy' (Shona), though the route is shaky (said 'duh-KAR-ee'). It leans to boys — we note that.
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Origin LowAmerican, Shona
MeaningA modern name often listed with a Shona (Zimbabwean) sense of 'joy; happiness,' though this attribution is not well documented and it is likely an American coinage in the Makari/Dakota sound family. It leans to boys in U.S. use, which we note. Routes uncertain.
U.S. rank (2024)#13823 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2019
Total births (all-time)≈ 194

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201919952024

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

Dakari circulates with a Shona gloss of 'joy; happiness,' but the attribution is not securely documented and the name reads just as easily as a modern American coinage. In U.S. use it leans to boys — we note the lean — and the routes are uncertain, which we also note. Warm and rhythmic (said 'duh-KAR-ee').

For girls it appears very rarely in the U.S., against heavier boys' use. Rare, rhythmic, and modern.

Did you know? Dakari is widely listed as Shona for 'joy,' but that attribution is thinly documented — it may simply be a modern coinage; we note the uncertainty, and the boys' lean (said 'duh-KAR-ee').
Overall data confidence 28%
References — Dakari — Shona 'joy' gloss poorly documented; likely modern coinage; boy-leaning

Variations

DakaraiDekariMakari

Nicknames

DakKari

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dakari…

Makari— a like -ari sound cousin
Zahari— a like flowing -ari pick
Amari— a like unisex -ari name
Dayari— another American name
Dearri— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Dakari

By themeuncertainmoderncross-sexunisex-lean-boy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dakari mean?

Dakari is often listed as Shona for 'joy,' but that route is not well documented; it may be a modern coinage. Routes are uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Dakari?

It's said duh-KAR-ee /dəˈkɑr.i/ — three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Dakari a boy or girl name?

Dakari is used for both, but leans to boys in the U.S. — we note the lean.

How popular is Dakari?

Dakari is very rare for girls in the U.S. and more common for boys.

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