NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Kairi

A feminine Japanese name meaning "great village, sea child".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kairi is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Kairi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 20 births.

This profile covers 246 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 35% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 245 living people in the UK are called Kairi. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kairi ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 20 girls were registered as Kairi.
  • About 245 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kairi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 96.5% of Kairi registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2019

20 births

Estimated living

245

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Kairi

In England and Wales birth records, Kairi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 3.5% of registrations are for boys and 96.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

96% girls
Boys9 (3.5%)Girls246 (96.5%)

Kairi registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,017 in 2021
  • 6 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2021 (6 births)

Kairi registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,318 in 2024
  • 7 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2019 (20 births)

Meaning

What does Kairi mean?

The given name Kairi is believed to have its origins in the Japanese language. It is a feminine name that gained popularity in Japan during the latter half of the 20th century.

The name Kairi is thought to be derived from the Japanese word "kairai," which means "fragrance" or "aroma." It is also possibly related to the Japanese word "kairaku," meaning "pleasure" or "delight." The name may have been chosen to convey a sense of beauty, grace, or pleasant qualities.

There are no known historical references or ancient texts that mention the name Kairi specifically. However, the name's connection to words related to fragrance and pleasure could suggest a connection to Japanese cultural traditions that celebrate the appreciation of natural beauty and sensory experiences.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kairi dates back to the late 20th century in Japan. However, there are no notable historical figures from earlier periods who bore this name.

Throughout modern history, there have been a few notable individuals with the first name Kairi:

1. Kairi Sane (born 1988) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed with WWE. She is a former NXT Women's Champion and was part of the iconic Kabuki Warriors tag team.

2. Kairi Chiba (born 1988) is a Japanese singer and voice actress. She has provided vocals for various anime series and video games, including the popular "Love Live!" franchise.

3. Kairi Hojo (born 1995) is a Japanese actress and model. She has appeared in several Japanese television dramas and films.

4. Kairi Sakamoto (born 1992) is a Japanese figure skater. She has represented Japan at multiple international competitions, including the Winter Olympics.

5. Kairi Yoshida (born 1998) is a Japanese professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for the Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds.

While these individuals have gained recognition in various fields, the name Kairi itself does not appear to have any significant historical figures associated with it prior to the modern era.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kairi over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Kairi in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kairi, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
05101520200320132024

Decades

Kairi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kairi was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2182 66 5
2010s #1929 148 10
2000s #3070 32 5

Related

Names similar to Kairi

FAQ

Kairi: questions and answers

How popular is the name Kairi in the UK right now?

In 2024, Kairi was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Kairi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 20 babies registered as Kairi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kairi?

A feminine Japanese name meaning "great village, sea child".

How many people are called Kairi in the UK?

A total of 246 babies have been registered as Kairi across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.