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Cary

Boy

Meaning of Cary: Irish: 'pleasant stream'

Cary is a boy's name most strongly associated with Irish naming. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, and it is familiar but far from overused — 3563rd most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 3254th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#3563

30 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#3254

6 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

29,827

First recorded 1880 · peak 1959

Trend

stable

Style: uncommon

Popularity over time

1981: 283 babies1982: 253 babies1983: 239 babies1984: 244 babies1985: 261 babies1986: 227 babies1987: 217 babies1988: 202 babies1989: 219 babies1990: 204 babies19901991: 177 babies1992: 156 babies1993: 138 babies1994: 129 babies1995: 109 babies1996: 92 babies1997: 104 babies1998: 99 babies1999: 63 babies2000: 72 babies20002001: 62 babies2002: 42 babies2003: 39 babies2004: 45 babies2005: 44 babies2006: 27 babies2007: 43 babies2008: 41 babies2009: 32 babies2010: 31 babies20102011: 38 babies2012: 33 babies2013: 28 babies2014: 28 babies2015: 32 babies2016: 35 babies2017: 36 babies2018: 27 babies2019: 41 babies2020: 26 babies20202021: 27 babies2022: 37 babies2023: 23 babies2024: 37 babies2025: 30 babies
US babies named Cary per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 283.

Gender split

82% boys · 18% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Irish boys' names

Other names starting with C