Kerri is a feminine given name, a variant of Kerry. Kerry itself originates as a transferred use of the surname, which derives from the Irish county name Ciarraí, meaning "Ciar's people." The root Ciar is an Irish Gaelic name meaning "black," derived from the descriptive word ciar. In Irish mythology, Ciar was a son of Fergus mac Róich and Medb, and he was the ancestor of the Ciarraige, the tribal group that gave its name to County Kerry. Gender and Usage While Kerry has historically been used for both males and females, Kerri is predominantly feminine, following a common English onomastic pattern of respelling male names with an -i or -ee suffix to create feminine forms (e.g., Toni, Bobbi). The name is used primarily in English-speaking countries, particularly the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, where it gained popularity in the mid-20th century. Notable Bearers Notable figures bearing the name include Australian actress Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Canadian judoka Kerri-Ann Gordon. In the United States, Kerri Strug is a famous Olympic gymnast. The variant spelling Keri is also used, as in author Keri Hulme. Related Names Kerri is part of a broader family of names stemming from the root Ciar. Variants include Keri and Kerrie, which are also respellings of the English name Kerry. Key Facts Meaning: Guttural; dark-skinned; descendant of Ciar Origin: Irish, derived from Kerry Type: Feminine given name (variant) Usage Regions: English-speaking World