Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shari
GirlHebrew, English· “short form of Sharon”
- Meaning
- short form of Sharon
- Origin
- Hebrew, English
- Pronunciation
- SHEH-ree
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #11,780
- US babies 2025
- 8
- Best rank
- #142 (1961)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Shari
Shari is a Hebrew and English name that is usually said to mean “short form of Sharon”.
Shari is a short form of Sharon, a Hebrew place name for a fertile plain on the coast of Israel, which appears in the Bible in the phrase the rose of Sharon. It can also be a variant of Sherry or Cheri, from the French chérie, darling. In Hungarian, Sári is a pet form of Sarah. The name became popular in the US in the middle of the twentieth century, and the puppeteer Shari Lewis, creator of Lamb Chop, made it widely known. Most people say it SHEH-ree or SHAH-ree.
Other spellings with the same sound: Sharry.
Popularity over time
Shari first appears in US Social Security records in 1927. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 54 different years, starting in 1936. Its best national rank was #142 in 1961, the same year it reached its highest count of 3,117 babies. In 2025, 8 babies were named Shari, and it ranked #11,780 nationally. That is 27% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #335 in 1950, #539 in 1980, #3,509 in 2000, #6,155 in 2010, and #11,780 in 2025. Of the 40,927 US girls named Shari since records began, 50% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 6,460 babies. Since 2010, 168 more have been named Shari.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Belinda, Toni, Sandy, Lynne, and Carmen.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shari is usually pronounced SHEH-ree, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ri”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sharry.
Middle names for Shari
A few middle names that flow with Shari: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shari
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Lists that include Shari
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shari mean?
Shari is a Hebrew and English name that is usually said to mean “short form of Sharon”.
What is the origin of the name Shari?
Shari has Hebrew and English roots. Shari is a short form of Sharon, a Hebrew place name for a fertile plain on the coast of Israel, which appears in the Bible in the phrase the rose of Sharon.
Is Shari a popular name?
Not especially. Shari ranked #11,780 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shari a boy or girl name?
Shari is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shari?
Shari is usually pronounced SHEH-ree. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings