Gary
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
905,223 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1952 Peak Popularity Year
38,838 Peak Births

Gary Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Gary is an Old English name that means 'spear.' It evolved from the Old English word 'gār' and became popular as a given name in the 20th century. The name is associated with strength and tradition but has seen a decline in use in modern times. It does not have a biblical background, and notable figures with this name include actors and athletes.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gary"

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Pronunciation

/ˈɡɛəri/

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Origin

Old English

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Etymology

The name Gary is derived from the Old English word 'gār,' which means 'spear.' It originally served as a surname and later became popular as a given name.

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Meaning

Spear

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Language Evolution

Old English: Gār, Middle English: Garie, Modern English: Gary

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Historical Usage

The name gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, and was especially common during the 1930s to 1960s.

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Variants & Derivatives

Garry, Garey, Gare

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Modern Popularity & Image

Gary is perceived as a classic and somewhat traditional name, though its popularity has declined in recent years.

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Famous People

Gary Cooper - American actor, Gary Oldman - English actor, Gary Lineker - English footballer

📊 Gary Name Trend Analysis

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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Declining
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Gary Name Visualizations

✨ Gary Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 38,838 peak births in 1952

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Montana

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Gary" - Complete Guide (5 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Gary". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Gary" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gary"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Gary"

"Gary" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 667th of 7545 1,446
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 25th of 6773 147,837
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 13th of 7552 545,098
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 39th of 10718 138,445
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 105th of 16616 50,464
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 338th of 24088 14,369
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 732nd of 23106 4,114
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 4569th of 9107 67
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 1377th of 9204 576
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 1185th of 12526 1,441
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 1780th of 19264 837
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 4175th of 27321 358
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 33240th of 35406 6

Regional Popularity of "Gary" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
54.38%
770th/1416
48.51%
669th/1379
29.46%
697th/2366
64.97%
742nd/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
1.16%
18th/1546
3.08%
48th/1556
2.25%
53rd/2353
0.71%
11th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
0.49%
11th/2227
0.74%
18th/2430
0.42%
12th/2853
0.40%
11th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
1.43%
42nd/2937
1.26%
44th/3483
0.97%
34th/3518
1.09%
44th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
2.96%
109th/3685
2.03%
91st/4475
1.66%
86th/5194
2.25%
142nd/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
7.70%
353rd/4582
5.54%
286th/5164
4.06%
297th/7313
5.76%
430th/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
18.27%
728th/3984
15.04%
675th/4487
9.98%
681st/6822
13.11%
823rd/6276

Regional Popularity of "Gary" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
76.65%
1185th/1546
90.55%
1409th/1556
100.00%
2353rd/2353
68.97%
1067th/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
56.89%
1267th/2227
47.78%
1161st/2430
50.54%
1442nd/2853
53.87%
1495th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
67.62%
1986th/2937
68.39%
2382nd/3483
73.56%
2588th/3518
51.56%
2085th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - 74.72%
3881st/5194
100.00%
6317th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Gary"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Gary" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Gary" in the United States

The name Gary is most popular in Montana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gary has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gary' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 667th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 25th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 13th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 39th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 105th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 338th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 732nd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4569th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1377th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1185th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1780th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4175th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 33240th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Gary' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Gary name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Gary,