What does Kari mean? K ari as a name for girls (also used less generally as boys’ name Kari) is an Old German, Greek and Latin name, and the meaning of the name Kari is “free man; pure; beloved”. Kari is an alternate form of Carol (Old German): originally a male name. Kari is also a variation of Catherine (Greek): from katharos.
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Kari