Kary
Kary was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 1330th with 76 babies. More babies were named Kary in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kari) Norwegian pet form of Katrine (Katherine) · Norwegian, Greek
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 197276 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,378babies recorded
What does the name Kary mean?
Kary is a spelling of Kari, pronounced the same way, so it shares Kari's meaning and origin.
Kari is a Norwegian pet form of Katrine, the Scandinavian form of Katherine; Wiktionary also treats it in English as a match for Carrie or Cary. Katherine comes from Greek Aikaterinē, whose origin is unknown. DMNES notes that it is not related to Greek katharos, "pure", although that link influenced the spelling with -th-. Kari was most popular in the US in the 1970s. Separately, Kari is a Finnish surname meaning "rock, skerry".
Kari (Norwegian, “pet form of Katrine”)Αἰκατερίνη (Greek, “Aikaterinē, of unknown origin”)
How sure is this? Well established. Kari is clearly a form of Katherine; the origin of Katherine is unknown.
Other explanations you may read: Katherine means 'pure' (Greek katharos).
Related names: Katherine, Karin, Carrie, Kara.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kari', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Katherine', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Kari (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Kary popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | #16,290 | — | 5 | — |
| 2010 | #12,863 | — | 8 | — |
| 2000 | #6,981 | — | 15 | — |
| 1990 | #3,843 | #3,697 | 27 | 16 |
| 1980 | #3,160 | #3,026 | 27 | 15 |
| 1970 | #1,743 | #1,360 | 52 | 38 |
| 1960 | #2,544 | #1,144 | 23 | 47 |
| 1950 | #2,973 | #1,917 | 13 | 16 |
| 1940 | #4,702 | — | 5 | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | #3,358 | — | 8 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Kary, counting every spelling?
Kary is a spelling of Kari, a name family that ranked #1,050 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together. Together these spellings went to 217 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kari | 90 | #2,087 | 581 |
| Carrie | 63 | #2,726 | 330 |
| Cari | 10 | #9,580 | 132 |
| Kaari | 22 | #5,632 | 121 |
| Kerri | 10 | #9,787 | 60 |
| Karri | 8 | #11,405 | 46 |
| Karrie | 7 | #12,528 | 32 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Kary?
About 1,800 people born in the US named Kary are alive today, with a median age of 50; half are between 37 and 59. That makes Kary mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Kary by state
How common Kary was among girls born in each state in 1970–1974, around its peak. In 46 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Kary: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Kary, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Kary
What does Kary mean?
Kary is a spelling of Kari, which means “Norwegian pet form of Katrine (Katherine)” (Norwegian, Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Kary?
Kary was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1972, when it ranked 1330th with 76 babies. More babies were named Kary in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Kary a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Kary in the US.
Where was Kary most popular?
In 1970–1974, Kary was most common in Illinois (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Ohio.