Bakari

Bakari - A very unique male name

Bakari appeared on the charts for the first time in 1977 on position #1988. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Bakari and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Bakari? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Bakari. The baby boy name Bakari was given to 38 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1904 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 38,586 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Bakari peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 1904.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Bakari, 1-5?

Bakari is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Bakari is currently topping the baby name charts in Ohio at position #949 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,662.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Bakari is where you live.

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Bakari origin and meaning

Swahili, from Arabic roots

Uncertain — a Swahili name connected to the Arabic Bakr/Abu Bakr tradition; glosses such as 'noble promise' or 'hopeful' circulate but are not firmly documented

Bakari is an East African, Swahili form in the Abu Bakr name family, used in the US since 1977, often in African-American families reaching for an African name. The neat English meanings attached to it online vary and are not well documented, so the name is marked UNCERTAIN. It reached its highest use in 2025.

Origin uncertain

Bakari is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Bakari, pop culture references for the name Bakari and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Bakari

We've found the following names that sound similar to Bakari, sorted by popularity.

Booker / Baker / Beecher / Boubacar / Bashir / Becker / Bashar / Basir / Bakary / Babacar /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Bakari

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Bakari a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Bakari?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

buh-KAH-ree · /bəˈkɑri/

Around the world

• Bakari (Swahili) — Used as-is in Swahili.

Spellings and nicknames

• Bakary — A West African spelling.

Famous bearers

• Bakari Sellers — American political commentator and former South Carolina state representative (b. 1984) Contemporary

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Bakari for a strong, African-rooted name with a rhythmic three-syllable sound. It is rising and at its peak in 2025.

Worth knowing

• The meanings claimed for it online ('promise', 'hopeful') are inconsistent and should not be relied on.