Given name & surname · also English, Irish
Kerry
“having black hair”
Kerry is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “having black hair.”
Original IrishCiarraí
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “having black hair.”
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Irish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
Kerry is used as a form of Kiera.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1920. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Kerry through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 98,644
- 49,969 boys · 48,675 girls
- Most popular year
- 1960
- 3,127 babies
- 2025
- 77
- #2,464 for boys · #5,642 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 71% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 55 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,464 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 2,176 in 1960. It also appeared in 22 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 83,556 as a first name in 2020; 1,654 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.
Kerry’s family of names
In English usage, Kerry has a diminutive in KEZ. In English usage, Kerry developed from the Old Norse form Kári. In English usage, Kerry has a related form in Kerri.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Kerry has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
Irishwhere Kerry comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 30
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Kearivariant
- Kerriganvariant
- Kerivariant · English
- Kerrivariant · English
- Kearievariant
- Keriganvariant
- Kerrievariant · English
- Kerryelikely variant
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Kezdiminutive · English
- Kereevariant
- Keryvariant
- Kerievariant
- Kearyvariant
- Kerreyvariant
- Kereavariant
- Kerriannevariant
- Kernvariant
- Kerilynvariant
- Keriannevariant
- Keriannavariant
- Kerianavariant
- Kezzadiminutive · English
- Kereyvariant
- Keareevariant
- Keareyvariant
- Kerreevariant
- Kerreavariant
- Kerilynnevariant
- Keriamvariant
- Kerianevariant
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Kerry
- Kerry WashingtonAmerican actressborn 1977
- Kerry KingAmerican guitarist (born 1964)
- Kerry CondonIrish actressborn 1983
- Kerry FoxNew Zealand actress (born 1966)
- Kerry BishéNew Zealand-born American actressborn 1984
- Kerry KatonaEnglish media personality and singer (born 1980)
- Kerry DixonEnglish footballer (born 1961)
- Kerry PackerAustralian publishing, media and gaming tycoon (1937–2005)
- Kerry Von ErichAmerican professional wrestler (1960-1993)
Characters named Kerry: Kerry Weaver (fictional character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Kerry, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Stoney
“as solid as a stone”
67% boys · 33% girls
Rickie
“a powerful ruler” · “a peaceful ruler”
65% boys · 35% girls
Kirby
“from the church town” · “from the village with the church”
48% boys · 52% girls
Kelby
“from the waters” · “from the farm near the spring”
60% boys · 40% girls
Dusty
“a brave fighter; from a dusty place”
71% boys · 29% girls
Casey
“vigilant, wakeful” · “a vigilant woman”
74% boys · 26% girls
Perry
“one who travels; a wanderer” · “as solid and strong as a rock”
59% boys · 41% girls
Kemper
“one who is noble”
62% boys · 38% girls