Kary: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Kary

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1971

108 babies

All-time total

3,378

#4,756 all-time among girls

First recorded

1917

in Social Security records

Kary popularity over time

3,378 babies have been named Kary since 1917, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	13	13	1	–	–
1920s	–	21	21	2	+62%	–
1930s	10	45	55	6	+162%	#4,536
1940s	59	113	172	17	+213%	#3,149
1950s	189	268	457	46	+166%	#1,971
1960s	397	415	812	81	+78%	#1,434
1970s	571	269	840	84	+3%	#1,330
1980s	301	172	473	47	-44%	#2,426
1990s	192	89	281	28	-41%	#3,843
2000s	144	11	155	16	-45%	#5,276
2010s	72	–	72	7	-54%	#9,802
2020s (to 2025)	27	–	27	5	-37%	#11,631

The story of Kary

Kary is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1917, 3,378 American babies have been named Kary, about 58% girls and 42% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1971, when 108 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 Kary stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Kary?

The median living Kary is about 52 years old; half are between 40 and 62. An estimated 3,000 people named Kary are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Kary 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	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	8	#11,696	–	–
2022	6	#14,434	–	–
2021	8	#11,631	–	–
2020	5	#16,290	–	–
2019	6	#14,662	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	5	#17,129	–	–
2016	9	#11,311	–	–
2015	11	#9,802	–	–
2014	7	#13,797	–	–
2013	5	#17,919	–	–
2012	10	#10,831	–	–
2011	11	#10,058	–	–
2010	8	#12,863	–	–
2009	12	#9,692	–	–
2008	17	#7,573	–	–
2007	17	#7,572	–	–
2006	14	#8,484	–	–
2005	–	–	6	#10,796
2004	12	#8,971	–	–
2003	15	#7,390	–	–
2002	20	#5,771	5	#11,603
2001	22	#5,276	–	–
2000	15	#6,981	–	–
1995	22	#4,600	7	#7,390
1990	27	#3,843	16	#3,697
1985	34	#2,769	25	#2,199
1980	27	#3,160	15	#3,026
1975	65	#1,548	23	#2,035
1970	52	#1,743	38	#1,360
1965	24	#2,499	41	#1,196
1960	23	#2,544	47	#1,144
1955	23	#2,308	26	#1,522
1950	13	#2,973	16	#1,917
1945	–	–	11	#2,192
1940	5	#4,702	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	8	#3,358
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Kary

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Kary Mullis American biochemist (1944–2019) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Kary, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Kary?

The median living Kary is about 52 years old. Half of all living Karys are between 40 and 62 years old.

How many people named Kary are alive today?

An estimated 3,000 people named Kary are alive in the United States, based on 3,378 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Kary mean?

Kary is both a surname and a given name.

How popular is the name Kary in 2025?

Kary did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Kary?

3,378 babies have been named Kary in the United States since 1917, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kary most popular?

Kary peaked in 1971, when 108 newborns received the name.

Is Kary a boy or girl name?

Kary is used for both: about 58% of babies named Kary have been girls and 42% boys.

Is the name Kary rising or falling?

Kary is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Kary?

Well-known people named Kary include Kary Mullis (chemist).

Names like Kary

Names that sound and feel close to Kary: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Kary with similar names → More names starting with K →