Amari Unisex

Popularity: #182 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-MAH-ree /əˈmɑːri/

Origin: African; Hebrew

Meaning: African: strength; Hebrew: God has promised

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Amari has roots that can be traced back to various linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the African and Hebrew languages. In Hebrew, the name is often interpreted as meaning "eternal" or "immortal," stemming from the root word "amar," which means "to say" or "to speak." This connection to language and expression adds a layer of depth to the name's significance.

The name has also been associated with the African origin, where it is sometimes interpreted to mean "strength" or "builder," reflecting qualities of resilience and fortitude. The transition of the name into English-speaking contexts likely occurred through cultural exchanges and the influence of African American communities, particularly during the 20th century, as names from diverse backgrounds gained recognition and acceptance in broader society.

Historically, the name Amari does not have prominent figures in Western literature or biblical texts, which makes its historical milestones less defined compared to more traditional names. However, its emergence in the late 20th century can be linked to a growing appreciation for names that reflect cultural heritage and identity.

The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, contributing to its resonance in contemporary naming practices. The use of Amari in literature and popular culture has also helped to solidify its place in modern naming conventions, although specific instances are less documented.

Culturally, Amari carries connotations of strength and resilience, making it a name that resonates with many families seeking to honor their heritage or instill values of endurance in their children. The name's melodic quality and positive meanings have contributed to its appeal, and it is sometimes affectionately shortened to forms like Mari.

Overall, Amari reflects a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance, embodying themes of strength and continuity.

Famous people named Amari

In this section, you will find notable people named Amari. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Amari who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Amari who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Amari Cooper is a professional football player best known for playing with the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders.

Amari Stoudemire is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.

Fictional characters named Amari

The following list of fictional characters named Amari is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Amari is a fictional character from the book Amari and the Night Brothers. She is a young girl who discovers a magical world while searching for her missing brother.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Amari, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AmayaAmaniAaliyahAnayaAria

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Amari. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AmaraAmaniAliyahZaharaSamaraTamarMayaKira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Amari was first seen in the United States in 1974.

Amari has ranked as high as #178 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Amari has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Amari is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Amari was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Amari.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 2,804 2,000 804
2024 3,234 2,164 1,070
2023 3,427 2,422 1,005
2022 3,188 2,179 1,009
2021 2,905 1,920 985
2020 2,682 1,742 940
2019 2,638 1,596 1,042
2018 2,141 1,323 818
2017 2,072 1,323 749
2016 2,063 1,363 700
2015 2,046 1,366 680
2014 1,574 985 589
2013 1,536 955 581
2012 1,708 1,075 633
2011 1,628 1,056 572
2010 1,667 1,005 662
2009 1,720 1,088 632
2008 1,781 951 830
2007 1,552 879 673
2006 1,269 684 585
2005 1,299 666 633
2004 1,334 638 696
2003 1,397 613 784
2002 1,182 505 677
2001 899 300 599
2000 779 260 519
1999 635 230 405
1998 746 251 495
1997 471 149 322
1996 307 85 222
1995 128 44 84
1994 115 43 72
1993 72 22 50
1992 68 21 47
1991 63 18 45
1990 32 14 18
1989 23 7 16
1988 22 12 10
1987 10 0 10
1986 16 7 9
1985 15 10 5
1984 6 0 6
1981 6 6 0
1980 11 6 5
1975 5 5 0
1974 6 6 0

Top States for Amari (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 406
13%
CA 314
10%
FL 221
7%
GA 151
5%
NY 147
5%
NC 126
4%
PA 126
4%
OH 113
4%
VA 88
3%
MI 87
3%
IL 82
3%
AZ 76
2%
TN 75
2%
WA 74
2%
MD 73
2%
NJ 73
2%
AL 71
2%
IN 66
2%
MO 64
2%
LA 64
2%
MA 64
2%
MS 58
2%
SC 53
2%
CO 47
1%
WI 44
1%
KS 38
1%
MN 36
1%
KY 35
1%
NV 34
1%
CT 32
1%
OR 31
1%
AR 30
1%
NM 27
1%
OK 23
1%
IA 23
1%
UT 22
1%
DE 19
1%
NE 17
1%
WV 12
0%
DC 11
0%
SD 10
0%
RI 6
0%
ID 6
0%
ME 5
0%
MT 5
0%