Keri
Girl name · 436 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Keri: 436 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 42 births in 1988.
With roots in both Irish and Welsh, Keri most often derives from the Irish Ciarraí, meaning ‘descendant of Ciar’—the dark-haired one—and shares its origin with County Kerry. A separate Welsh strand links it to caru, ‘to love’, giving the name a gentle, affectionate feel. American actress Keri Russell brought the name into modern spotlight, while New Zealand novelist Keri Hulme won the Booker Prize for The Bone People. The place-name Kerry in south-west Ireland echoes the same etymological source, and the spelling Kerri is a common alternative. Unisex in use, Keri balances a soft, friendly sound with a strong Celtic heritage, making it a versatile choice that has appeared steadily on Scottish birth registers.
Girl 35 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 198842 babies
- Latest (2009)
- #7833 babies
- Total births
- 436since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 42%vs prior 5y