Cary
Cary is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Pleasant, dark-haired, or from the fort.
Origin and history
Cary is a unisex name with Celtic and Old Norse roots, often derived from an Irish surname meaning pleasant or dark-haired, or an Old English place name. In the United States, it reached its peak popularity for boys in the mid-20th century and remains a classic, recognizable name today.
Popularity in the United States
24,504 babies in the United States have been named Cary since 1880. It ranks #749 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1752.
States where it is most popular
- CA (12.7 %)
- TX (10.4 %)
- IL (7.2 %)
- NY (6.1 %)
- MI (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 127 |
| 1890-1900 | 123 |
| 1900-1910 | 135 |
| 1910-1920 | 382 |
| 1920-1930 | 551 |
| 1930-1940 | 666 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,807 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,460 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,047 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,599 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,783 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,004 |
| 2000-2010 | 360 |
| 2010-2019 | 285 |
| 2020-2029 | 175 |
Famous people named Cary
- Cary Grant: Actor
- Cary Elwes: Actor, Author
Fun facts
- The name Cary gained immense popularity in mid-20th century America through screen icon Cary Grant.
- It functions both as a traditional Anglicized Irish surname and as a geographic place name in England.