Kerry
Kerry is a girl's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Dark-haired or belonging to the people of Ciar.
Origin and history
Kerry is derived from the Irish county name, Ciarraí, which means 'people of Ciar.' It gained popularity as a given name in the mid-20th century in the United States for both females and males. Though historically well-used, its usage for newborn girls has declined significantly in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
48,675 babies in the United States have been named Kerry since 1880. It ranks #599 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2002.
States where it is most popular
- NY (13.5 %)
- CA (10.3 %)
- MA (8.6 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
- PA (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 16 |
| 1930-1940 | 59 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,463 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,442 |
| 1960-1970 | 12,223 |
| 1970-1980 | 16,123 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,593 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,439 |
| 2000-2010 | 925 |
| 2010-2019 | 293 |
| 2020-2029 | 99 |
Famous people named Kerry
- Kerry Washington: Actress, Producer
- Kerry Fox: Actress
- Kerry Condon: Actress
Fun facts
- The name directly references County Kerry in southwestern Ireland, named after the ancient Ciarraige tribe.
- Kerry has been given to both girls and boys regularly in the U.S. since the 1940s.