Kerry
Gender-neutral name · Celtic Gaelic · Irish
Meaningland of Ciar's people · Irish
- US rank
- #2,451
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #158 in 1960
55 babies were named Kerry in the US in 2025. It has climbed 529 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1920–2025
US births per million boys, 1921–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Kerry you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 31,056 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Kerry, 55 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Kerry would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryKerry first shows up in US birth records in 1920, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 105 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1960, when it ranked #158. Today it's #2,451, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowKerry was 2.1× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 14,556 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 31,056.
- TrendKerry has climbed 529 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #2,451. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedKerry is most popular in Indiana, where it ranks #949. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- Boy or girlKerry is given to both boys and girls: 71% of the 77 babies named Kerry in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Irish, Kerry means “land of Ciar's people”. Our records link it to Celtic Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Kerry
Kerry is a gender-neutral name of Celtic Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “land of Ciar's people”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with K and ending in “-rry”. US birth records list Kerry for boys from 1921 to 2025, in 105 of those 105 years. Its best year was 1960, when it ranked #158 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,451, with 55 babies. Of the 77 US babies named Kerry in 2025, 29% were girls and 71% were boys.
Origin:Celtic Gaelic namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1.3 | 751,880 girls |
| 1930s | 5.5 | 181,159 girls |
| 1940s | 94 | 10,656 girls |
| 1950s | 333 | 3,006 girls |
| 1960s | 682 | 1,467 girls |
| 1970s | 1,045 | 957 girls |
| 1980s | 445 | 2,249 girls |
| 1990s | 190 | 5,275 girls |
| 2000s | 50 | 19,802 girls |
| 2010s | 17 | 59,880 girls |
| 2020s | 10 | 98,200 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 9.3 | 107,399 boys |
| 1930s | 51 | 19,778 boys |
| 1940s | 252 | 3,963 boys |
| 1950s | 709 | 1,410 boys |
| 1960s | 783 | 1,278 boys |
| 1970s | 402 | 2,487 boys |
| 1980s | 239 | 4,183 boys |
| 1990s | 128 | 7,829 boys |
| 2000s | 58 | 17,259 boys |
| 2010s | 31 | 32,595 boys |
| 2020s | 27 | 37,688 boys |
Other spellings of Kerry
More Celtic Gaelic names
- Girl name: Hazel · hazel tree
- Girl name: Genevieve · possibly woman of the people
- Girl name: Brianna · possibly noble, strong
- Girl name: Maisie · pearl
- Boy name: Bowen · son of Owen
- Boy name: Malcolm · devotee of Saint Columba
- Girl name: Bonnie · pretty
- Girl name: Cecelia · blind
Questions about the name Kerry
What does the name Kerry mean?
Kerry means “land of Ciar's people” in Irish.
What is the origin of the name Kerry?
Kerry has Celtic Gaelic, Irish roots in our records. Other Celtic Gaelic names include Hazel, Genevieve, Brianna.
Is Kerry a boy or girl name?
Both. Kerry is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 29% of US babies named Kerry were girls.
How popular is the name Kerry?
Kerry ranked #2,451 for US boys in 2025, given to 55 babies. Its best year was 1960 (#158).