Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Tarry isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1940. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tarry through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 619
- 430 boys · 189 girls
- Most popular year
- 1963
- 29 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 2004. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 20 in 1968. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 596 as a first name in 2020; 868 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.
Tarry’s family of names
In English usage, Tarry as a surname has a related form in Terry. In Greek usage, Tarry as a surname is a transliteration of Τάρρυ.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Tarry, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tal
“covered with the morning's dew”
85% boys · 15% girls
Kerry
“having black hair”
71% boys · 29% girls
Marty
“lady” · “dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
84% boys · 16% girls
Parrish
“woman of the church” · “man of the church”
71% boys · 29% girls
Andree
“manliness” · “virility”
93% boys · 7% girls
Perry
“one who travels; a wanderer” · “as solid and strong as a rock”
59% boys · 41% girls
Tobi
“God is good” · “The Lord is good”
60% boys · 40% girls
Torrence
“from the little hills”
89% boys · 11% girls