Cari: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#9,580

among girls · ↓3,745 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Cari · -38% vs 2024

How common

1 in 160,727

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1976

541 babies

All-time total

12,870

#1,440 all-time among girls

First recorded

1941

in Social Security records

Cari popularity over time

12,870 babies have been named Cari since 1941, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	21	–	21	2	–	#3,212
1950s	547	5	552	55	+2529%	#812
1960s	2,756	15	2,771	277	+402%	#470
1970s	4,432	19	4,451	445	+61%	#380
1980s	3,068	16	3,084	308	-31%	#447
1990s	1,260	–	1,260	126	-59%	#962
2000s	259	–	259	26	-79%	#3,034
2010s	252	19	271	27	+5%	#4,678
2020s (to 2025)	162	39	201	34	+24%	#3,904

The story of Cari

Cari is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,580 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1941, 12,870 American babies have been named Cari. Its peak came in 1976, when 541 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cari stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cari?

The median living Cari is about 48 years old; half are between 40 and 55. An estimated 12 thousand people named Cari are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cari year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	10	#9,580	6	#10,901
2024	21	#5,835	5	#12,653
2023	27	#4,895	8	#9,055
2022	38	#3,904	9	#8,429
2021	36	#4,037	–	–
2020	30	#4,468	11	#7,116
2019	22	#5,648	9	#8,322
2018	27	#4,909	5	#12,483
2017	27	#4,950	5	#12,599
2016	21	#6,025	–	–
2015	26	#5,156	–	–
2014	21	#6,028	–	–
2013	30	#4,678	–	–
2012	27	#5,135	–	–
2011	30	#4,707	–	–
2010	21	#6,222	–	–
2009	12	#9,505	–	–
2008	25	#5,602	–	–
2007	21	#6,367	–	–
2006	17	#7,213	–	–
2005	22	#5,631	–	–
2004	24	#5,242	–	–
2003	34	#3,959	–	–
2002	21	#5,487	–	–
2001	37	#3,561	–	–
2000	46	#3,034	–	–
1995	104	#1,509	–	–
1990	195	#962	–	–
1985	274	#661	–	–
1980	293	#622	–	–
1975	519	#393	–	–
1970	430	#473	–	–
1965	226	#653	–	–
1960	189	#740	–	–
1955	36	#1,739	–	–
1950	5	#5,392	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cari, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cari?

The median living Cari is about 48 years old. Half of all living Caris are between 40 and 55 years old.

How many people named Cari are alive today?

An estimated 12 thousand people named Cari are alive in the United States, based on 12,870 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Cari mean?

Cari is an English, Welsh and Spanish feminine given name and surname.

How popular is the name Cari in 2025?

Cari ranked #9,580 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Cari?

12,870 babies have been named Cari in the United States since 1941, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cari most popular?

Cari peaked in 1976, when 541 newborns received the name.

Is Cari a boy or girl name?

Cari is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cari rising or falling?

Cari is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Cari

Names that sound and feel close to Cari: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cari with similar names → More names starting with C →