Kairi

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAH-ee-ree /ˈkɑː.i.ri/High

Meaning: Sea; from Japanese kai (sea) + ri (reason, logic, village) — also the name of a character in the video game Kingdom HeartsMedium

In 30 seconds: A Japanese-origin name meaning 'sea' (kai) combined with ri (reason or village), popularized globally as the name of a character in the Kingdom Hearts video game series (2002).

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningSea; from Japanese kai (sea) + ri (reason, logic, village) — also the name of a character in the video game Kingdom Hearts

U.S. rank (2024)#1030 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births244 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,015

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 combines Japanese elements: kai (sea, ocean) and ri (reason, village, or profit, depending on the kanji). It is a genuine Japanese feminine name that gained enormous international exposure through Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game series (first released 2002), where Kairi is a principal character.

Kairi appeared in U.S. birth data from the mid-2000s, driven substantially by Kingdom Hearts' cultural impact. It ranked #1030 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Kairi is one of three main characters in Kingdom Hearts — alongside Sora and Riku — and the game's widespread popularity has made this Japanese name recognizable to millions of Western players who might not otherwise encounter it.

Overall data confidence 78%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KairyKairee

Nicknames

KaiKair

Famous Bearers

★Kairi (fictional)
A principal character in Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game series (debuted 2002), a Keyblade wielder from Destiny Islands.

If you like Kairi…

Kai— the first element of Kairi, used as a standalone name

Kaia— similar-sounding Ka- name with the same open vowel feel

Marisol— sea-related name (mar: sea + sol: sun) with the same coastal imagery

Nami— Japanese name meaning wave, in the same sea-nature naming space

Sora— Japanese name meaning sky, one of Kairi's companions in Kingdom Hearts

Explore names like Kairi

By themenature three-syllable japanese sea

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kairi mean?

Kairi combines Japanese kai (sea) and ri (reason or village), meaning roughly 'sea village' or 'sea reason.' The exact kanji determines the meaning.

How do you pronounce Kairi?

It's said KAH-ee-ree — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kairi a boy or girl name?

Kairi is used as a girls' name in both Japan and the U.S.

How popular is Kairi?

Kairi ranked #1030 for U.S. girls in 2024.