Given name & surname
Kary
“of the wind”·“one with curly hair”·“a joyous song; a small, strong woman”
Kary is a variant of Kari. Interpretations include “of the wind” and “one with curly hair”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts. Kary is a variant of Karoline. In English use, Karoline carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Kary is a variant of Kari. Interpretations include “of the wind” and “one with curly hair”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts. Kary is a variant of Karoline. In English use, Karoline carries the interpretation “a joyous song; a small, strong woman.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kary through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,378
- 1,416 boys · 1,962 girls
- Most popular year
- 1971
- 108 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −12%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 8 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 76 in 1972. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,161 as a first name in 2020; 842 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Kary’s family of names
Kary has a related form in Kari. Kary has a related form in Karoline. In Greek usage, Kary as a surname is a transliteration of Καρύ.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kary
- Kary MullisAmerican biochemist (1944–2019)
- Kary NgHong Kong singerborn 1986
- Kary AntholisAmerican filmmakerborn 1962
- Kary H LaschSwedish photographer (1914–1993)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Kary, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cari
“from the river” · “from the fort on the hill”
18% boys · 82% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Cami
“crooked nose”
>99% girls
Kelli
“a lively and bright-headed woman” · “a warrior”
>99% girls
Kateri
Kateri is a feminine given name from Mohawk. It is used in French.
>99% girls
Cori
“from the hollow; of the churning waters”
7% boys · 93% girls
Karena
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Carrie
“a joyous song; a small, strong woman” · “from the river”
>99% girls