The name is derived from the Sanskrit हरि (hari), which means “brown; yellow; green; fawn-coloured.” The word itself is derived from a proto-Indo-European root word, *ǵʰel- meaning, “to shine; yellow; green.” It is linked with the Persian word zar (gold), the Greek khlores (green), Slavic zelen (green) & zolto (gold); and even shares the same root with the modern English word yellow.
In Hinduism, Hari is used interchangeably with Vishnu and sometimes Krishna.
Hari is used to refere to God or the Supreme Being in many other Southeast Asian religions, such as in Sikhism, Buddhism & Jainism.
Hari in many Indian languages is also used as a euphemism for any brown fauna, such as lions, monkeys and horses. The feminine form of Harí is the name of a mythological matriarch of the monkey species, mentioned in Sanskrit epics.
Currently, Hari is the 440th Most Popular Male Name in England & Wales, (2018).
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