Nori Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

About Nori

Nori is one of those names with several origins that would have no trouble assimilating into a variety of cultures. It might also be associated with the dried seaweed used to wrap sushi or with the nickname Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use for their daughter North.

Nori for girls#1196 US

As a Japanese name, it means "ceremonial rites", "doctrine", or "seaweed". depending on which kanji elements are used. As a name of Arabic origin, it could be a variation or nickname of Nor, Noor, or Nuri, meaning "light". As an English name, it likely emerged as a nickname, from Eleanor, Honora, or similar.

Nori entered the Top 1000 for the first time in 2022, following the trend of "traveling lite" names, or simple, 2-syllable names ending in i such as Zuri, Ezri, and Leni that are quickly gaining popularity.

Nori for boys#3632 US

Attractive, simple Japanese choice that, while not strictly unisex, could work even better for a girl, especially now that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West use it as the nickname for their daughter North. Nori is also the name of an edible seaweed used in wrapping sushi.

Nori also has roots as an Old Norse name, either a derivative of Nórr, meaning "north," or the word nori, referring to a small person.

Pronounced NOR-ee.

As of October 2026, Nori ranked #1196 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #903 in 2023.

Popularity & trends

US popularity — history

US rank, lower is more popular · SSA data 2014–2025

Girls #1,196

Boys #3,632

20142025

18802025

Data table

Year	US rank · girls	Births · girls	US rank · boys	Births · boys
2014	#1,966	102	—	0
2015	#1,605	134	—	0
2016	#1,392	168	—	0
2017	#1,472	153	—	0
2018	#1,397	161	—	0
2019	#1,035	249	—	0
2020	#1,174	198	#3,625	30
2021	#1,013	252	#4,455	23
2022	#933	290	#4,396	24
2023	#903	296	#4,426	24
2024	#1,013	251	#4,817	21
2025	#1,196	193	#3,632	31