"beautiful, good"
Origin: Swahili
Language: Swahili
Zuri
Pronunciation: [ z-OOR-ee ]
Does Zuri flow with your last name?
Swahili for beautiful — joyful and bright
Swahili
African
African-American
American
Modern
Earthy
Unique
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Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"excellent, fine"
Origin: Bantu
Language: Swahili
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The Story of Zuri
Zuri comes from the Swahili adjective meaning 'beautiful' or 'good,' a word used widely across East Africa in everyday speech. Swahili itself is a Bantu language with Arabic influences, spoken by over 200 million people as a first or second language. As a given name, Zuri is a celebration of beauty and goodness wrapped into two bright syllables that work equally well in almost any language.
Zuri began attracting American parents in the 2000s and 2010s as African names gained mainstream recognition. The character Zuri from the Disney Channel series 'Jessie' and 'BUNK'D' brought the name into living rooms across the US, accelerating its rise for both boys and girls.
In Swahili-speaking East Africa — including Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda — Zuri is a common term of endearment and admiration. Giving a child this name is an expression of parental joy and a hope that the child will embody beauty and goodness throughout their life.
Historical Record
Zuri first appeared in US Social Security records in 1973.
Over 753 babies have been named Zuri in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Zuri is rising quickly in popularity , currently ranked #4,613 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Zuri is one of the most common Swahili words for 'beautiful' — as in 'Hakuna matata, maisha ni mazuri' (No worries, life is good)
- Zuri Ross was a popular character in the Disney Channel series Jessie (2011-2015)
- The name works identically as both a masculine and feminine name in Swahili
Zuri in Other Languages
Arabic
زوري
French
Zuri
Spanish
Zuri
Swahili
Zuri
Japanese
ズリ
Popularity Over Time
#4,613
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Rising Fast
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
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Compare Zuri with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #4,613
- Total SSA Count
- 22
- Cultural Origins
- Swahili African African-American American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Zu
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Classic pairing, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Zuri
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Zuri is also used as a girl name, ranked #277.
View Zuri as a girl name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (Swahili)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Zuri
What does the name Zuri mean?
"beautiful, good" (from Swahili). "excellent, fine" (from Bantu). Zuri comes from the Swahili adjective meaning 'beautiful' or 'good,' a word used widely across East Africa in everyday speech. Swahili itself is a Bantu language with Arabic influences, spoken by over 200 million people as a first or second language. As a given name, Zuri is a celebration of beauty and goodness wrapped into two bright syllables that work equally well in almost any language.
What is the origin of the name Zuri?
Zuri has Swahili, Bantu, African, African-American, and American origins. In Swahili, it means "beautiful, good". In Bantu, it means "excellent, fine".
Is Zuri a boy or girl name?
Zuri is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #4613. As a girl name, it is ranked #277. Zuri is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Zuri?
Zuri is pronounced z-OOR-ee.
How popular is the name Zuri?
Zuri is currently ranked #4613 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Zuri?
Popular middle name pairings include Zuri Kai, Zuri Emmanuel, Zuri James, Zuri Alexander, Zuri Lee, Zuri Orion, and Zuri Miles.
What are good sibling names for Zuri?
Names that pair well with Zuri as siblings include Amara, Kemi, Soren, Nova, Imani, Niko, and Zion.
How many syllables does Zuri have?
Zuri has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Zuri a common or rare name?
Zuri is an uncommon name, ranked #4613 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Zuri?
Are there other spellings for Zuri?
Related spellings include Zuriel.
About the Name Zuri
Zuri is a boy name with Swahili, African, African-American, and American origins . The name means "beautiful, good" in Swahili .
Is Zuri a boy or girl name? Zuri is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #4,613 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #277. Zuri is more commonly used as a girl name.
Zuri is currently ranked #4,613 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Zuri has 2 syllables and is pronounced z-OOR-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Zuri include Zu. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Zuri include Zuriel . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis