Gary
How to say it: GAIR-ee · /ˈɡɛri/
From Germanic gar meaning 'spear'. Also an English place name. Peaked in mid-20th century America.
Gary was the 968th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 201 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 57% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,234 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #968 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 201 |
| Share of births | 1 in 16,494 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −57% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,234 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,330 among boys’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Midcentury was the moment for Gary, topping out in the 1950s. Far below that level today, it seems set to fade further.
What goes with it
Gruff yet friendly, its two syllables combine soft tones with crisp bite. Roger carries a kindred spirit.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Gary is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, German.
In France: #1,330 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Gary
- Gary Oldman (born 1958)British actor and filmmaker
- Gary Lineker (born 1960)English football pundit and former player
- Gary Sinise (born 1955)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Gary Glitter, convicted child sex offender
Keep exploring
About as popular as Gary
Find names you'll both love, starting with Gary
The one-minute style quiz.