Cary
Welsh/Irish · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Cary
The name 'Cary' is an English surname-turned-given name derived from the Welsh *Cariad* meaning "love" or from the Irish *Ciarán* meaning "little dark one," with the latter rooted in the Gaelic word *ciar* ("dark").
This meaning was compiled with AI assistance and is awaiting community review. Know this name well? Help verify or improve it.
Etymology
The name 'Cary' is an English surname-turned-given name derived from the Welsh *Cariad* meaning "love" or from the Irish *Ciarán* meaning "little dark one," with the latter rooted in the Gaelic word *ciar* ("dark"). It is used primarily in English-speaking cultures, notably in the United States and United Kingdom, with no specific religious association, though it gained prominence through figures like actor Cary Grant (born Archibald Leach).
Cary currently ranks #3,676 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1957.
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Sibling name ideas
Western names that sit beautifully beside CarySimilar names you might like
Names starting with CMore names starting with C
- Calmer
- Calissa
- Cache
- Calissi
- Cainan
- Caledon
- Calliah
- Caedmon
- Callis
- Callon
- Caisha
- Calian
- Camara
- Cairl
- Calvester
- Caitland
- Caeser
- Callyn
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