Kerry
Kerry is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Dark-haired or descendant of Ciar.
Origin and history
Kerry is a masculine given name derived from the Irish county name, Ciarraí, which means 'people of Ciar'. Ciar is an Old Irish personal name meaning 'black' or 'dark'. Although historically given to both boys and girls, it peaked in popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century.
Popularity in the United States
49,969 babies in the United States have been named Kerry since 1880. It ranks #512 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1652.
States where it is most popular
- TX (9.2 %)
- CA (6.5 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
- LA (5.9 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 93 |
| 1930-1940 | 537 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,054 |
| 1950-1960 | 14,416 |
| 1960-1970 | 15,286 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,662 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,406 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,510 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,152 |
| 2010-2019 | 578 |
| 2020-2029 | 275 |
Famous people named Kerry
- Kerry Wood: Baseball Player
Fun facts
- The name directly corresponds to County Kerry, a picturesque region in southwestern Ireland.
- While originally a male surname and given name in Ireland, Kerry became popular for both boys and girls in the U.S.