Heri
Meaninghappiness · Swahili
Heri is an African boy name meaning “happiness”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationHeri peaked in 1987, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Heri you'd meet today is about 38 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Heris too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Heri would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 285,714 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistoryHeri first shows up in US birth records in 1987, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 38 years since.
US births per million boys, 1987–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Heri
Heri is a boy name of African origin meaning “happiness”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1980s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African boy names
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Zaire · river
- Boy name: Omari · long-lived
- Boy name: Ermias · form of Jeremiah
- Boy name: Jabari · brave, fearless
- Boy name: Paulo · small
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
Questions about the name Heri
What does the name Heri mean?
Heri means “happiness” and comes from Swahili. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Zorion (“happiness”) and Thabo (“joy, happiness”).
What is the origin of the name Heri?
Heri is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Swahili. Other African names to consider are Cairo (“the victorious”), Asa (“healer”), Zaire (“river”) and Omari (“long-lived”).
Is Heri a boy or girl name?
Heri is a boy name. In 2025, 6 US boys were named Heri.
How popular is the name Heri?
Heri ranked #10,695 for US boys in 2025, given to 6 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it reached #6,089.
What names are similar to Heri?
If you like Heri, you might also like Zorion and Thabo.
What should I know before naming my baby Heri?
Heri is an African boy name meaning “happiness”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.