Karin
Meaningoften flowering quince · Japanese
Karin is a Japanese girl name often meaning “flowering quince”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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 crisp and confident, 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?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Karin and you get Kiran. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Karin has the name Ari hiding inside it.
- GenerationKarin peaked in 1967, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Karin you'd meet today is about 58 years old.
- HistoryKarin first shows up in US birth records in 1907, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 118 years since.
US births per million girls, 1907–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Karin
Karin is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often flowering quince”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 1960s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Karin
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Karin
What does the name Karin mean?
Karin means “often flowering quince” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Florian (“flowering”), Florentina (“flowering”), Floriana (“flowering”) and Florinda (“flowering”).
What is the origin of the name Karin?
Karin is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Karin a boy or girl name?
Karin is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year.
How popular is the name Karin?
Karin is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #275 in 1967, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Karin?
If you like Karin, you might also like Carin, Karynn, Florian, Florentina and Floriana. Carin is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Karin?
Karin is a Japanese girl name often meaning “flowering quince”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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 crisp and confident, 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.