How Many People Are Named Gary?

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

Gary
Rare
Old English

Gary means 'spear', a strong warrior name from Old English. That's 1 in 540 Americans who go by Gary today, totaling 611,123 people. It's a classic, old-school name with most folks over 60.

~20,528
Living in US
1 in 16,146
Americans
1952
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Spear
🌐
Origin
Old English
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 6
Personality Traits
Strong Dependable Classic
6
Life Path Number

It's believed that life-path number 6 represents harmony, balance, and responsibility.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

611,123
Worldwide Bearers
#123
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
124

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
608,586 (100%)
♀ Female
2,537 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 69
18,489
Would be under 30 (2%)
174,793
Would be 30–60 (19%)
711,941
Would be over 60 (79%)

All 905,223 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: 1952

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
78
Modern Appeal
22
International
5

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

📜 Gary Through the Generations

Gary peaked in popularity in 1952 with 38,838 births, making it a staple of mid-century America. Today, the majority of people named Gary are over 60, with only 18,489 under 30. This trend reflects its status as a traditional name that's now seen less often among younger generations.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 77,584
New York 62,936
Ohio 56,948
Pennsylvania 49,496
Michigan 49,261
Texas 46,746
Illinois 44,668
Missouri 28,989
Wisconsin 25,416
Indiana 25,237

⭐ Famous People Named Gary

Gary and Garry are English language masculine given names.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Gary

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Gary's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Gary

How Many People Have the Name Gary?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 20,528 people in the United States currently share the name Gary. That works out to roughly 1 in every 16,146 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Gary a Common or Rare Name?

Gary 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 Gary Mean?

Gary means "spear" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Gary in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Gary Most Popular?

The name Gary reached peak popularity in 1952, with 38,838 babies registered that year. Current trend: 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 Gary?

Approximately 20,528 people named Gary live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 20,528. That works out to roughly 1 in 16,146 Americans.

Is Gary a rare name?

Gary is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 16,146 Americans has this name.

What does the name Gary mean?

Gary means "spear" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Gary more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Gary are male and 0% are female.

When was Gary most popular?

Gary peaked in 1952 with 38,838 births that year. Current trend: 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 US20,528
All-Time Births20,528
1 in X1 in 16,146
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age69
Peak Year1952
World Rank#123
Male %100%
Female %0%

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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.