Gary
Boy name · #1073 in 2025 · Uniqueness 73/100
In 2025, 201 baby boys were named Gary, placing it at #1073 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #581, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,955 boys born in 2025 was named Gary.
The 145-year story
Gary first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 38,754 boys were named Gary — good for #10 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Gary per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gary against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gary in class?
Gary scores 73 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Gary will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gary is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gary is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Garys were CA (18), TX (18), FL (15), MO (11), NY (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Gary
Statistically, parents drawn to Gary tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Terry, Larry, Cary, Jerry, and Guy.
TerryLarryCaryJerryGuyPerryBarryRandy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gary | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 201 | #1073 |
| 2024 | 187 | #1133 |
| 2023 | 203 | #1066 |
| 2022 | 237 | #956 |
| 2021 | 253 | #907 |
| 2020 | 288 | #806 |
| 2019 | 303 | #774 |
| 2018 | 374 | #671 |
| 2017 | 407 | #637 |
| 2016 | 444 | #606 |
| 2015 | 479 | #581 |
| 2014 | 493 | #561 |
| 2013 | 446 | #578 |
| 2012 | 492 | #530 |
| 2011 | 527 | #495 |
| 2010 | 547 | #475 |
| 2009 | 611 | #452 |
| 2008 | 679 | #427 |
| 2007 | 779 | #388 |
| 2006 | 870 | #349 |
| 2005 | 879 | #338 |
| 2004 | 925 | #326 |
| 2003 | 912 | #323 |
| 2002 | 1,043 | #285 |
| 2001 | 1,013 | #294 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gary a popular boy name?
Gary ranked #1073 among boys in 2025 with 201 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #581.
When was the name Gary most popular?
Gary peaked in 1952, when 38,754 American boys received the name (ranked #10 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gary?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,955 newborn American boys was named Gary. It scores 73/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.