Gary
Male name · ↓ Falling
367,988
Total Births
1952
Peak Year
—
Rank 2023
1880
First Recorded
📋 About the Name Gary
Gary is of Germanic origin meaning 'spear,' popularized by actor Gary Cooper in the 1930s. It peaked sharply in the 1950s and has declined significantly since. Other notable Garys include Gary Oldman and Gary Lineker.
📊 Popularity by Decade
| 1880s | 100 births |
| 1890s | 225 births |
| 1900s | 317 births |
| 1910s | 378 births |
| 1920s | 719 births |
| 1930s | 19,626 births |
| 1940s | 90,905 births |
| 1950s | 134,455 births |
| 1960s | 66,023 births |
| 1970s | 27,210 births |
| 1980s | 15,683 births |
| 1990s | 7,448 births |
| 2000s | 3,329 births |
| 2010s | 1,300 births |
| 2020s | 270 births |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gary?
Gary has been given to 367,988 babies in the United States since 1880. It peaked in popularity in 1952 with 15,975 births that year.
Is Gary a boy or girl name?
Gary is primarily used as a male name in the United States.
When was Gary most popular?
Gary was most popular in 1952, when 15,975 babies were given this name. The name has been declining in popularity.
How old is the name Gary?
Gary first appeared in US records in 1880 (the earliest year in the dataset).