Kerry
A surname from Middle English derived from the place name, or from the Middle English given name Kendrick.
Every Kerry since 1920 — 98,644 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Kerry
Kerry is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,464 in 2025 with 55 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1920, 98,644 American babies have been named Kerry — about 51% boys and 49% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1960, when 3,127 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
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 Kerry stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Kerry 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 | 22 | #5,642 | 55 | #2,464 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,658 | 49 | #2,691 |
| 2023 | 13 | #8,283 | 35 | #3,383 |
| 2022 | 17 | #6,858 | 55 | #2,504 |
| 2021 | 16 | #7,112 | 42 | #2,946 |
| 2020 | 23 | #5,396 | 39 | #3,004 |
| 2019 | 22 | #5,715 | 43 | #2,878 |
| 2018 | 17 | #6,953 | 51 | #2,530 |
| 2017 | 30 | #4,635 | 57 | #2,302 |
| 2016 | 30 | #4,681 | 53 | #2,423 |
| 2015 | 26 | #5,219 | 62 | #2,201 |
| 2014 | 37 | #4,062 | 62 | #2,190 |
| 2013 | 39 | #3,883 | 71 | #1,953 |
| 2012 | 27 | #5,180 | 53 | #2,404 |
| 2011 | 35 | #4,193 | 61 | #2,159 |
| 2010 | 30 | #4,803 | 65 | #2,084 |
| 2009 | 32 | #4,628 | 70 | #1,999 |
| 2008 | 37 | #4,230 | 85 | #1,769 |
| 2007 | 45 | #3,630 | 87 | #1,724 |
| 2006 | 73 | #2,525 | 99 | #1,524 |
| 2005 | 80 | #2,270 | 120 | #1,287 |
| 2004 | 86 | #2,107 | 172 | #973 |
| 2003 | 100 | #1,852 | 112 | #1,273 |
| 2002 | 141 | #1,372 | 130 | #1,117 |
| 2001 | 149 | #1,298 | 142 | #1,038 |
| 2000 | 182 | #1,124 | 135 | #1,063 |
| 1995 | 295 | #710 | 206 | #748 |
| 1990 | 556 | #446 | 402 | #483 |
| 1985 | 672 | #349 | 525 | #351 |
| 1980 | 1,000 | #259 | 431 | #394 |
| 1975 | 1,676 | #163 | 646 | #294 |
| 1970 | 1,831 | #176 | 967 | #243 |
| 1965 | 921 | #289 | 1,471 | #177 |
| 1960 | 951 | #302 | 2,176 | #158 |
| 1955 | 615 | #348 | 1,601 | #174 |
| 1950 | 478 | #365 | 1,062 | #197 |
| 1945 | 124 | #664 | 310 | #341 |
| 1940 | 22 | #1,714 | 112 | #561 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4,558 | 110 | #550 |
| 1930 | — | — | 21 | #1,628 |
| 1925 | 6 | #4,693 | 14 | #2,263 |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,361 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Kerry
- Kerry Washington Actor · b. 1977
- Kerry Fox Actor · b. 1966
- Kerry Melville Tennis player · b. 1947
- Kerry Condon Actor · b. 1983
- Kerry Bishé Actor · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kerry mean?
A surname from Middle English derived from the place name, or from the Middle English given name Kendrick.
How popular is the name Kerry in 2025?
Kerry ranked #2,464 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 55 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Kerry?
98,644 babies have been named Kerry in the United States since 1920, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Kerry most popular?
Kerry peaked in 1960, when 3,127 newborns received the name.
Is Kerry a boy or girl name?
Kerry is used for both: about 49% of babies named Kerry have been girls and 51% boys.
Is the name Kerry rising or falling?
Kerry is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Kerry?
Well-known people named Kerry include Kerry Washington (actor), Kerry Fox (actor), Kerry Melville (tennis player).