Kuri as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kuri

What is the meaning of the name Kuri ?

The baby name Kuri is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KOO-ree (approx. IPA: /ˈkuːri/; Japanese: [kuɾi]).

Kuri is Arabic, Gujarati, Japanese in Origin.

Kuri is a multicultural given name and surname with several distinct roots. In Japanese, Kuri (栗) means “chestnut,” evoking autumnal warmth and endurance; it appears as a rare unisex given name, more commonly as a surname, and as an element in names like Kuriko (“chestnut child”). The sound Kuri also serves as a casual nickname for longer Japanized forms of Western names (e.g., Kurisu for Chris).

Beyond Japan, Kurī (with macron) is the Māori word for “dog,” historically referencing the Polynesian dog brought to Aotearoa New Zealand; as a personal name it appears occasionally and carries themes of loyalty and companionship. In South India, Kuri functions as a familiar short form of Kuriakose/Kurian/Kurien, ultimately from Greek Kyriakos, “of the Lord,” via Syriac. Variants and related names include Kurī, Kuriko, Kuriakose, Kurian/Kurien, Kyriakos, and Cyriac/Cyriacus.