Gary
Peaked at #9 nationally in 1954, based on real US Social Security Administration birth records.
Girls vs. boys, all-time
Since 1880, Gary has been recorded <1% of the time for girls and >99% of the time for boys.
Play with Gary
Not quite the name you're after? Generate nicknames and more, based on Gary.
Pick a style above and hit Generate to see AI-suggested nicknames.
Gary — Girls (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#936
in 1947
Last ranked
#12623
in 1997
Years tracked
80
1915–1997
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1915, Gary reached its peak popularity for girls in 1947, ranking #936 nationally with 90 babies given the name that year.
Gary hasn't appeared among the national top ranks for girls since 1997, when it stood at #12623.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | #12,623 | 6 |
| 1996 | #9,881 | 8 |
| 1995 | #9,883 | 8 |
| 1994 | #14,173 | 5 |
| 1993 | #8,968 | 9 |
| 1992 | #6,417 | 14 |
| 1991 | #10,647 | 7 |
| 1990 | #5,919 | 15 |
Gary — Boys (United States)
FallingPeak rank
#9
in 1954
Current rank
#1130
in 2024
Years tracked
143
1880–2024
Trend
Falling
Tracked since 1880, Gary reached its peak popularity for boys in 1954, ranking #9 nationally with 37,921 babies given the name that year.
Over the last 10 years of data, its rank has slipped from #561 (2014) to #1130 (2024) — a 50% drop.
As of 2024, Gary ranks #1130 nationally for boys, with 187 babies given the name that year.
Recent years
| Year | Rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #1,130 | 187 |
| 2023 | #1,067 | 203 |
| 2022 | #956 | 237 |
| 2021 | #908 | 253 |
| 2020 | #806 | 288 |
| 2019 | #774 | 303 |
| 2018 | #671 | 374 |
| 2017 | #637 | 407 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, National Data, 1880–2024.
Similar trajectory
Other names that peaked around the same era and rose or fell on a comparable curve.
Based on US data — boys' names only.
Common Questions
When was Gary most popular?
Gary was most popular in 1954, when it ranked #9 nationally for boys — the highest rank it has reached in this data.
Is Gary becoming more or less popular?
For girls, it's currently falling; for boys, it's currently falling, based on the last decade of SSA data.
How many babies have been named Gary?
At least 905,223 babies have been recorded with the name Gary in the US since 1880, according to Social Security Administration birth records.
Looking for more name ideas like Gary? Try the Baby Name Generator or compare it against other names on the Name Trends hub.