How Many People Are Named Kerry?

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

Kerry
Very Rare
Irish

Kerry means 'dark' in Irish and has a rare charm, with only 1 in 3,940 Americans bearing this name. That's around 83,764 people today, making it quite exclusive. With 45% over 60, Kerry leans towards being an older generation's choice.

~1,654
Living in US
1 in 200,393
Americans
1960
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Dark
🌐
Origin
Irish
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Determined Adventurous
5
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 5 are known for their adaptability and love of freedom.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

83,764
Worldwide Bearers
#3,062
Global Rank
🇰🇪 Kenya
2,050
🇯🇲 Jamaica
743
🇨🇳 China
700
🇮🇪 Ireland
614
🇬🇭 Ghana
562
🇲🇾 Malaysia
535
🇵🇭 Philippines
487
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
481
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
466
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
458

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
39,280 (47%)
♀ Female
44,483 (53%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 57
4,402
Would be under 30 (4%)
49,880
Would be 30–60 (51%)
44,281
Would be over 60 (45%)

All 98,563 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: 1960

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
65
Modern Appeal
35
International
5

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

📜 Kerry Through the Generations

Kerry peaked in popularity in 1960 when 3,127 babies were given this name, reflecting a time when it was more commonly used. Today, the name has a significant age skew, with 44,281 individuals over 60, indicating its strong association with older generations. The average age of 57 suggests that Kerry is a name that's seen better days, with a declining trend since its peak.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 8,257
California 7,676
Texas 6,009
Pennsylvania 5,183
Illinois 4,869
Massachusetts 4,549
Michigan 3,863
Ohio 3,628
Louisiana 3,234
New Jersey 2,939

✨ Similar Names to Kerry

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Kerry's Irish roots

📄 About the Name Kerry

How Many People Have the Name Kerry?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,654 people in the United States currently share the name Kerry. That works out to roughly 1 in every 200,393 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Kerry a Common or Rare Name?

Kerry is classified as Very 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 Kerry Mean?

Kerry means "dark" and comes from Irish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Kerry in SSA data, approximately 47% are male and 53% are female.

When Was Kerry Most Popular?

The name Kerry reached peak popularity in 1960, with 3,127 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 Kerry?

Approximately 1,654 people named Kerry live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 1,654. That works out to roughly 1 in 200,393 Americans.

Is Kerry a rare name?

Kerry is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 200,393 Americans has this name.

What does the name Kerry mean?

Kerry means "dark" and comes from Irish origins.

Is Kerry more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 47% of people named Kerry are male and 53% are female.

When was Kerry most popular?

Kerry peaked in 1960 with 3,127 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 US1,654
All-Time Births1,654
1 in X1 in 200,393
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age57
Peak Year1960
World Rank#3,062
Male %47%
Female %53%

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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.