Fun Facts About the Name Gary
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 902,139 boys named Gary from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Gary stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 56 consecutive years, from 1933 through 1988.
- More than 905 thousand babies named Gary: U.S. records list 905,424 babies given the name Gary from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,285 girls received the name Gary - about 1 girl for every 275 boys.
What Does the Name Gary Mean?
Gary is an English masculine given name. Its usual meaning is "spear," from the Germanic element ger- meaning "spear" (related to Old English gār). The name is often explained as a short form of compound Germanic names built on the same element, especially Gerald ("spear ruler") and Gerard ("brave spear"); in those fuller names the sense is more specific, but Gary by itself is not treated as a full compound. The exact early route is uncertain: the given name may come from a Norman personal name or from the English surname Gary, which itself is usually connected to a short form of a ger- name.
Gary Name History & Origins
The spear element ger- appears in many Germanic names recorded in medieval Europe, including Gerhard and Gerald. After the Norman Conquest of England, short forms such as Geri and Gari are found there as personal names, and the English surname Gary (also Garie) is generally thought to derive from one of these. The given name Gary developed later, when surnames began to be reused as first names in the English-speaking world; it was in use by the 19th century and became common during the 20th. In Ireland, Gary has sometimes been used as an English equivalent of Gearóid, the Irish form of Gerald, which is a separate line of development from the English surname. A prominent later bearer was the American actor Gary Cooper.
How Popular is the Name Gary?
Gary remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1933 to 1988. Its highest annual birth count was in 1952, and people born that year turn 74 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | #12,623 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #9,881 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #9,883 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #14,173 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,968 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #6,417 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #10,647 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #5,919 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #5,374 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #3,622 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #3,123 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1986 | #2,869 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #2,718 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1984 | #3,260 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1983 | #2,108 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1982 | #2,297 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 1981 | #2,576 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 1980 | #2,319 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1979 | #1,983 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 1978 | #2,360 | 38 | 0.0025% |
| 1977 | #1,931 | 51 | 0.0033% |
| 1976 | #2,218 | 38 | 0.0026% |
| 1975 | #1,919 | 47 | 0.0032% |
| 1974 | #1,886 | 46 | 0.0031% |
| 1973 | #1,810 | 47 | 0.0032% |
| 1972 | #1,775 | 49 | 0.0032% |
| 1971 | #1,694 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 1970 | #1,533 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1969 | #1,405 | 68 | 0.0040% |
| 1968 | #1,303 | 72 | 0.0044% |
| 1967 | #1,386 | 63 | 0.0038% |
| 1966 | #1,519 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 1965 | #1,550 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 1964 | #1,451 | 61 | 0.0032% |
| 1963 | #1,267 | 76 | 0.0039% |
| 1962 | #1,251 | 78 | 0.0040% |
| 1961 | #1,138 | 93 | 0.0046% |
| 1960 | #1,239 | 78 | 0.0039% |
| 1959 | #1,236 | 75 | 0.0037% |
| 1958 | #1,322 | 64 | 0.0032% |
| 1957 | #1,126 | 87 | 0.0043% |
| 1956 | #1,274 | 67 | 0.0033% |
| 1955 | #1,084 | 87 | 0.0044% |
| 1954 | #1,048 | 88 | 0.0045% |
| 1953 | #1,181 | 67 | 0.0036% |
| 1952 | #1,019 | 85 | 0.0046% |
| 1951 | #1,120 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 1950 | #1,117 | 68 | 0.0040% |
| 1949 | #1,224 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 1948 | #1,017 | 74 | 0.0044% |
| 1947 | #936 | 90 | 0.0051% |
| 1946 | #941 | 79 | 0.0050% |
| 1945 | #996 | 60 | 0.0046% |
| 1944 | #949 | 67 | 0.0050% |
| 1943 | #1,051 | 58 | 0.0042% |
| 1942 | #1,010 | 60 | 0.0044% |
| 1941 | #1,037 | 50 | 0.0041% |
| 1940 | #1,089 | 44 | 0.0038% |
| 1939 | #1,440 | 27 | 0.0025% |
| 1938 | #1,238 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1937 | #1,164 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1936 | #1,424 | 27 | 0.0026% |
| 1935 | #2,035 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1934 | #2,120 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1933 | #1,748 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1932 | #2,411 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1931 | #2,241 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,239 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #4,847 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #2,673 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #3,132 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #5,283 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #4,678 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1922 | #5,292 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #3,514 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #4,139 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,999 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #5,106 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1917 | #3,866 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,959 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,073 | 201 | 0.0118% |
| 2024 | #1,130 | 187 | 0.0109% |
| 2023 | #1,067 | 203 | 0.0119% |
| 2022 | #956 | 237 | 0.0136% |
| 2021 | #908 | 253 | 0.0145% |
| 2020 | #806 | 288 | 0.0167% |
| 2019 | #774 | 303 | 0.0169% |
| 2018 | #671 | 374 | 0.0206% |
| 2017 | #637 | 407 | 0.0220% |
| 2016 | #606 | 444 | 0.0234% |
| 2015 | #580 | 479 | 0.0250% |
| 2014 | #561 | 493 | 0.0257% |
| 2013 | #580 | 446 | 0.0236% |
| 2012 | #532 | 492 | 0.0259% |
| 2011 | #495 | 527 | 0.0278% |
| 2010 | #475 | 547 | 0.0285% |
| 2009 | #452 | 611 | 0.0308% |
| 2008 | #427 | 679 | 0.0333% |
| 2007 | #388 | 779 | 0.0375% |
| 2006 | #349 | 870 | 0.0423% |
| 2005 | #338 | 878 | 0.0440% |
| 2004 | #326 | 925 | 0.0466% |
| 2003 | #324 | 912 | 0.0462% |
| 2002 | #285 | 1,043 | 0.0537% |
| 2001 | #294 | 1,013 | 0.0521% |
| 2000 | #275 | 1,168 | 0.0595% |
| 1999 | #251 | 1,253 | 0.0653% |
| 1998 | #234 | 1,345 | 0.0704% |
| 1997 | #232 | 1,327 | 0.0704% |
| 1996 | #201 | 1,543 | 0.0815% |
| 1995 | #190 | 1,625 | 0.0854% |
| 1994 | #167 | 1,898 | 0.0982% |
| 1993 | #156 | 2,064 | 0.1052% |
| 1992 | #139 | 2,393 | 0.1198% |
| 1991 | #124 | 2,678 | 0.1326% |
| 1990 | #114 | 3,070 | 0.1495% |
| 1989 | #106 | 3,126 | 0.1562% |
| 1988 | #100 | 3,244 | 0.1695% |
| 1987 | #87 | 3,486 | 0.1867% |
| 1986 | #84 | 3,719 | 0.2020% |
| 1985 | #82 | 3,812 | 0.2062% |
| 1984 | #76 | 3,950 | 0.2188% |
| 1983 | #68 | 4,269 | 0.2381% |
| 1982 | #64 | 4,640 | 0.2557% |
| 1981 | #62 | 4,947 | 0.2762% |
| 1980 | #63 | 5,037 | 0.2823% |
| 1979 | #59 | 5,040 | 0.2927% |
| 1978 | #60 | 5,112 | 0.3113% |
| 1977 | #58 | 5,447 | 0.3315% |
| 1976 | #52 | 5,592 | 0.3564% |
| 1975 | #50 | 6,115 | 0.3916% |
| 1974 | #48 | 6,444 | 0.4098% |
| 1973 | #44 | 6,851 | 0.4395% |
| 1972 | #41 | 7,759 | 0.4784% |
| 1971 | #38 | 9,189 | 0.5196% |
| 1970 | #35 | 10,716 | 0.5766% |
| 1969 | #35 | 11,143 | 0.6231% |
| 1968 | #32 | 11,972 | 0.6888% |
| 1967 | #32 | 12,613 | 0.7233% |
| 1966 | #28 | 14,156 | 0.7937% |
| 1965 | #27 | 15,259 | 0.8202% |
| 1964 | #26 | 17,209 | 0.8636% |
| 1963 | #24 | 18,924 | 0.9318% |
| 1962 | #22 | 20,888 | 1.0097% |
| 1961 | #21 | 22,168 | 1.0437% |
| 1960 | #22 | 21,684 | 1.0171% |
| 1959 | #20 | 23,301 | 1.0916% |
| 1958 | #17 | 25,290 | 1.1916% |
| 1957 | #13 | 29,531 | 1.3689% |
| 1956 | #13 | 31,839 | 1.5052% |
| 1955 | #12 | 34,433 | 1.6717% |
| 1954 | #9 | 37,921 | 1.8600% |
| 1953 | #10 | 36,966 | 1.8742% |
| 1952 | #10 | 38,753 | 1.9938% |
| 1951 | #10 | 38,161 | 2.0268% |
| 1950 | #10 | 33,740 | 1.8846% |
| 1949 | #12 | 28,933 | 1.6310% |
| 1948 | #12 | 28,396 | 1.6184% |
| 1947 | #12 | 30,030 | 1.6414% |
| 1946 | #12 | 26,931 | 1.6583% |
| 1945 | #13 | 21,345 | 1.5860% |
| 1944 | #15 | 20,058 | 1.4718% |
| 1943 | #16 | 17,868 | 1.2519% |
| 1942 | #18 | 17,067 | 1.2357% |
| 1941 | #19 | 14,568 | 1.1860% |
| 1940 | #19 | 12,573 | 1.0847% |
| 1939 | #21 | 9,681 | 0.8747% |
| 1938 | #22 | 8,862 | 0.7990% |
| 1937 | #29 | 6,763 | 0.6341% |
| 1936 | #38 | 5,192 | 0.5006% |
| 1935 | #44 | 4,490 | 0.4312% |
| 1934 | #60 | 3,354 | 0.3248% |
| 1933 | #80 | 2,254 | 0.2273% |
| 1932 | #136 | 1,295 | 0.1240% |
| 1931 | #153 | 990 | 0.0952% |
| 1930 | #194 | 713 | 0.0650% |
| 1929 | #234 | 537 | 0.0499% |
| 1928 | #395 | 227 | 0.0205% |
| 1927 | #542 | 130 | 0.0115% |
| 1926 | #615 | 104 | 0.0094% |
| 1925 | #587 | 115 | 0.0103% |
| 1924 | #723 | 84 | 0.0074% |
| 1923 | #703 | 85 | 0.0078% |
| 1922 | #783 | 73 | 0.0067% |
| 1921 | #699 | 86 | 0.0078% |
| 1920 | #770 | 74 | 0.0070% |
| 1919 | #686 | 82 | 0.0084% |
| 1918 | #749 | 74 | 0.0073% |
| 1917 | #735 | 72 | 0.0078% |
| 1916 | #704 | 72 | 0.0081% |
| 1915 | #660 | 78 | 0.0092% |
| 1914 | #660 | 59 | 0.0090% |
| 1913 | #738 | 40 | 0.0078% |
| 1912 | #629 | 44 | 0.0102% |
| 1911 | #616 | 25 | 0.0111% |
| 1910 | #766 | 16 | 0.0082% |
| 1909 | #865 | 12 | 0.0073% |
| 1908 | #491 | 26 | 0.0168% |
| 1907 | #645 | 16 | 0.0109% |
| 1906 | #599 | 16 | 0.0120% |
| 1905 | #601 | 16 | 0.0121% |
| 1904 | #738 | 11 | 0.0086% |
| 1903 | #867 | 8 | 0.0067% |
| 1902 | #514 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1901 | #699 | 10 | 0.0094% |
| 1900 | #934 | 9 | 0.0060% |
| 1899 | #812 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #921 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #592 | 13 | 0.0115% |
| 1896 | #606 | 13 | 0.0109% |
| 1895 | #617 | 12 | 0.0102% |
| 1894 | #691 | 10 | 0.0086% |
| 1893 | #864 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1892 | #530 | 15 | 0.0123% |
| 1891 | #886 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #613 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1888 | #965 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1887 | #778 | 7 | 0.0069% |
| 1886 | #792 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1885 | #794 | 7 | 0.0065% |
| 1884 | #1,030 | 5 | 0.0044% |
| 1882 | #620 | 10 | 0.0088% |
| 1881 | #813 | 6 | 0.0060% |
| 1880 | #857 | 6 | 0.0054% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
