Kairi

♂ Boy

Pronounced KY-ree /ˈkaɪ.ri/High

Meaning: Sea; of the oceanHigh

In 30 seconds: Kairi is a Japanese name meaning 'sea,' composed of kai (sea) and ri. It gained worldwide recognition through the character Kairi in Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts game series.

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Origin HighJapanese

MeaningSea; of the ocean

U.S. rank (2025)#2958 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births42 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 569

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Kairi is a Japanese given name that can be written with kanji such as 海 (kai, sea) + 里 (ri, village) or other combinations. In Japan it is used for both boys and girls, though it leans feminine there.

Outside Japan, Kairi is often perceived as gender-neutral or male, partly through the Kingdom Hearts character (female in the game, but the name adopted by boys in Western markets). Its flowing two-syllable sound fits naturally into English-speaking naming patterns.

Did you know? In the Kingdom Hearts franchise, the three main characters — Sora (sky), Riku (land), and Kairi (sea) — form a trio whose names together represent the natural world, making Kairi part of an intentional elemental naming theme.

Overall data confidence 83%

Jisho Japanese Dictionary — Kairi kanji combinations and meaningKingdom Hearts franchise documentation — Character Kairi and elemental naming theme

Variations

KairyKairīKiri

Nicknames

Kai

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kairi…

Kai— shares the kai (sea) element and Hawaiian/Japanese resonance

Kaimana— Hawaiian name also meaning sea-power

Kaito— another Japanese name

Kanon— another Japanese name

Kirin— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Kairi

By thememodern nature japanese gender-neutral sea gaming

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kairi mean?

Kairi means 'sea' in Japanese, from kai (sea/ocean). It can be written with various kanji combinations emphasizing ocean and natural imagery.

How do you pronounce Kairi?

Kairi is pronounced KY-ree, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Kairi a boy or girl name?

Kairi is used for both. In Japan it leans feminine; in Western countries it is used for both boys and girls, with the gaming community contributing male use.

How popular is Kairi?

Kairi is gaining popularity in English-speaking countries, driven by gaming culture and the broader trend of Japanese-inspired names.