Carey
A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Carey since 1880 — 29,621 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Carey
Carey is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,519 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 29,621 American babies have been named Carey — about 57% boys and 43% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1975, when 1,058 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Carey stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Carey year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 13 | #6,519 |
| 2024 | 5 | #15,736 | 18 | #5,275 |
| 2023 | — | — | 12 | #6,965 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12,502 | 11 | #7,345 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10,453 | 7 | #9,899 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,434 | 12 | #6,699 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,699 | 18 | #5,192 |
| 2018 | 10 | #9,966 | 23 | #4,384 |
| 2017 | 11 | #9,442 | 22 | #4,492 |
| 2016 | 6 | #14,690 | 24 | #4,212 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,054 | 23 | #4,312 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7,737 | 21 | #4,560 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,208 | 24 | #4,077 |
| 2012 | 11 | #9,850 | 28 | #3,728 |
| 2011 | 7 | #13,637 | 29 | #3,616 |
| 2010 | 18 | #6,973 | 26 | #3,910 |
| 2009 | 19 | #6,863 | 28 | #3,735 |
| 2008 | 8 | #12,812 | 27 | #3,841 |
| 2007 | 24 | #5,754 | 39 | #2,980 |
| 2006 | 15 | #7,946 | 32 | #3,316 |
| 2005 | 26 | #4,983 | 27 | #3,541 |
| 2004 | 22 | #5,604 | 33 | #3,030 |
| 2003 | 29 | #4,444 | 26 | #3,454 |
| 2002 | 28 | #4,406 | 49 | #2,158 |
| 2001 | 36 | #3,643 | 50 | #2,087 |
| 2000 | 39 | #3,411 | 40 | #2,385 |
| 1995 | 73 | #1,904 | 73 | #1,381 |
| 1990 | 96 | #1,579 | 141 | #860 |
| 1985 | 175 | #905 | 169 | #683 |
| 1980 | 342 | #545 | 168 | #665 |
| 1975 | 756 | #304 | 302 | #464 |
| 1970 | 409 | #490 | 324 | #453 |
| 1965 | 150 | #812 | 283 | #463 |
| 1960 | 137 | #897 | 370 | #411 |
| 1955 | 136 | #829 | 363 | #378 |
| 1950 | 68 | #1,116 | 272 | #409 |
| 1945 | 16 | #2,162 | 132 | #520 |
| 1940 | 13 | #2,318 | 96 | #603 |
| 1935 | 19 | #1,791 | 80 | #664 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,708 | 65 | #803 |
| 1925 | 14 | #2,504 | 65 | #823 |
| 1920 | 16 | #2,286 | 63 | #854 |
| 1915 | 12 | #2,406 | 59 | #785 |
| 1910 | 6 | #2,182 | 25 | #570 |
| 1905 | 7 | #1,561 | 19 | #529 |
| 1900 | — | — | 26 | #447 |
| 1895 | 5 | #1,628 | 17 | #491 |
| 1890 | — | — | 11 | #609 |
| 1885 | — | — | 13 | #524 |
| 1880 | 6 | #756 | 13 | #506 |
Famous people named Carey
- Carey Lowell Actor · b. 1961
- Carey Mulligan Actor · b. 1985
- Carey Price Hockey player · b. 1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Carey mean?
A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Carey in 2025?
Carey ranked #6,519 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Carey?
29,621 babies have been named Carey in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Carey most popular?
Carey peaked in 1975, when 1,058 newborns received the name.
Is Carey a boy or girl name?
Carey is used for both: about 43% of babies named Carey have been girls and 57% boys.
Is the name Carey rising or falling?
Carey is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Carey?
Well-known people named Carey include Carey Lowell (actor), Carey Mulligan (actor), Carey Price (hockey player).