Nori

♂ Boy

Pronounced NOR-ee /ˈnɔr.i/Medium

Meaning: From Japanese nori, 'belief, doctrine, law, ceremony' (meaning depends on kanji); also Nori, a dwarf in Norse myth (and The Hobbit); routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Crisp and worldly: Nori is Japanese for 'belief, doctrine' — and a dwarf of Norse myth (and The Hobbit). Soft, distinctive, and warm.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumJapanese, Norse

MeaningFrom Japanese nori, 'belief, doctrine, law, ceremony' (meaning depends on kanji); also Nori, a dwarf in Norse myth (and The Hobbit); routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#3632 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births31 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 244

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

Nori comes from Japanese nori, 'belief, doctrine, law, ceremony' (the meaning depends on the kanji), and is also the name of a dwarf in Norse mythology and Tolkien's The Hobbit (routes layered, which we note). A soft, distinctive name, used for both sexes, here for boys.

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese and modern families. Rare, belief-or-a-dwarf at the root, and distinctive.

Did you know? Nori means 'belief, doctrine, law' in Japanese (depending on the kanji) — and is a dwarf in Norse myth (and Tolkien's The Hobbit); a soft, worldly name, used for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Nori — routes layered

Variations

NorieNoriaki

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nori…

Ren— a fellow short Japanese name

Kai— a companion short name

Rai— another short Japanese name

Noa— a fellow soft modern name

Explore names like Nori

By themeuncertain unisex japanese norse

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nori mean?

Nori is Japanese for 'belief, doctrine, law' (kanji-dependent), and a dwarf of Norse myth; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Nori?

It's said NOR-ee /ˈnɔr.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nori a boy or girl name?

Nori is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Nori?

Nori is a rare name in the U.S.