Gary

Meaning: Spear
Origin: Germanic — Short form of names like Gerard or Gerald

Boy's name · #1073 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Gary belongs to an older America first — it reached #9 back in 1954 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1073. About 902,000 boys have carried it since 1880.

Across the states

See where Gary is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 27 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Gary ranks in other countries and regions.

#568 in Ecuador (2025) · #837 in Scotland (2025) · #1,178 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,870 in France (2025).

Famous Garys

Gary Oldman — British actor and filmmaker (born 1958)
Gary Cooper — American actor (1901–1961)
Gary Lineker — English football pundit and former player
Gary Sinise — American actor
Gary Coleman — American actor (1968–2010)

In stories & tradition

Gary the Snail — SpongeBob SquarePants (TV series)
Gary Oak — Pokémon (anime series)
Gary (Superintendent Chalmers) — The Simpsons (TV series)

What Garys become

Among 4,343 notable people named Gary:

Sports figures appear 2.07× more often than among typical names — e.g. Gary Lineker, English football pundit and former player.

Similar names: Randy · Garrett · Larry · Bobby · Ronnie · Corey

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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