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Kiri

Girl name · 7 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Kiri: 7 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1989.

Kiri is a name with multiple origins, most familiar to Scottish and English speakers as a Māori name meaning "skin of a tree" or "bark," though it also appears as a Japanese name meaning "mist" or a Greek short form of Kyriaki ("of the Lord"). The most famous bearer is the celebrated New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, whose luminous soprano voice and international career made her a household name. Her fame led to the naming of the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland. In Scotland, Kiri is sometimes used as a diminutive of Kirsty or Kirsten, giving it a familiar yet distinctive feel. The name’s cross-cultural appeal—from Māori roots to Scottish nicknames—makes it a gentle, melodic choice that feels both exotic and approachable.