Cary

Cary is a boy's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 31 boys in the United States.

Cary at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/Algonquin|co/

About the name Cary

Cary belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Cary first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #264 in 1966, and in 2024 31 babies received the name — 24,472 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Cary in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#264 in 1966
Peak year
1957
Babies named Cary in 2024
31
Total since 1880
24,472

Cary in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#1765 in 1996
Babies named Cary in 2025
3
Total since 1996
51

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Cary mean?

The meaning of Cary is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Cary a boy or girl name?

Cary is a boy name. In 2024, 31 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Cary?

Cary comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Cary?

Cary first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #264 in 1966, and 31 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Cary?

Cary is pronounced /Algonquin|co/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.