How Many People Are Named Cary?

Complete statistics for the name Cary: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Cary
Rare
Old English

Cary means 'rocky place' and has a very rare presence among American names, with only 1 in 14,866 Americans bearing it. That's just 22,199 people today, making it quite exclusive. The majority of Carys are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~10,955
Living in US
1 in 30,256
Americans
1959
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Rocky place
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 2
Personality Traits
Strong Dependable
2
Life Path Number

Traditionally, life-path number 2 represents balance and harmony.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

22,199
Worldwide Bearers
#17,263
Global Rank
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
142
🇧🇷 Brazil
122
🇲🇽 Mexico
116
🇻🇪 Venezuela
93
🇨🇴 Colombia
57
🇵🇹 Portugal
55
🇫🇷 France
48
🇯🇲 Jamaica
48
🇮🇩 Indonesia
46
🇸🇪 Sweden
45

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
17,804 (80%)
♀ Female
4,394 (20%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 63
1,191
Would be under 30 (4%)
11,754
Would be 30–60 (39%)
16,833
Would be over 60 (57%)

All 29,778 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1959

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
74
Modern Appeal
26
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Cary Through the Generations

Cary reached its peak popularity in 1959 when 906 babies were given this name. Today, the name is slowly declining but remains cherished by many. With an average age of 63, Cary is predominantly found among older generations, with 57% being over 60. This trend shows how Cary has become synonymous with a bygone era, where its rocky origins might symbolize enduring strength through time.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 2,981
Texas 2,300
Illinois 1,681
New York 1,407
Michigan 1,016
Ohio 900
Georgia 879
Virginia 778
Indiana 756
Florida 706

⭐ Famous People Named Cary

Cary is a given name. Notable people with the name include:Cary Angeline, American football player Cary Brothers, American singer-songwriter Cary Elwes, English actor and writer Cary Joji Fukunaga, American film director Cary Grant (1904–1986), English-American actor Cary Guffey, American former child actor Cary Huang, American animator and YouTuber Cary Kaplan,, sports marketer Cary Kwok, Hong Kong-born British artist Cary B. Lewis (1888–1946), African American sportswriter Cary Middlecoff (1921–1998), American professional golfer Cary Millholland Parker (1902–2001), landscape architect Cary …

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Cary

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Cary's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Cary

How Many People Have the Name Cary?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,955 people in the United States currently share the name Cary. That works out to roughly 1 in every 30,256 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Cary a Common or Rare Name?

Cary is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Cary Mean?

Cary means "rocky place" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 2.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Cary in SSA data, approximately 80% are male and 20% are female.

When Was Cary Most Popular?

The name Cary reached peak popularity in 1959, with 906 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Cary?

Approximately 10,955 people named Cary live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,955. That works out to roughly 1 in 30,256 Americans.

Is Cary a rare name?

Cary is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 30,256 Americans has this name.

What does the name Cary mean?

Cary means "rocky place" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Cary more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 80% of people named Cary are male and 20% are female.

When was Cary most popular?

Cary peaked in 1959 with 906 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US10,955
All-Time Births10,955
1 in X1 in 30,256
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age63
Peak Year1959
World Rank#17,263
Male %80%
Female %20%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.