Carey

Carey is a surname name that works equally well on babies of all genders: Jazz great Carey Bell and motorcross champion Carey Hart are just two examples of how handsome this name can be for a boy. Also spelled as Cary (as in Old-Hollywood actor, Cary Grant), it was popular for boys in the 50s and remained in the US charts from the 1880s to the 1990s.

Usually considered an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ciardha, the name ultimately comes from ciar meaning "black". It is possible however that it may be used as a variant of the Welsh Carew ("fort on the hill!); a twist on the Irish mac Fiachra ("son of Fiachra, son of the crow"); a name from the Byronic root karɨd ("to love); or an anglicized for of the German Gehring ("spear").

While Carey is a unisex choice, it reached great heights for girls in the US back in the 1970s, likely thanks to its similarities with Carrie, Kerry, Cheri, and Caroline. These days, it's leaning masculine again, albeit in very small numbers: just 18 boys and 5 girls were given the name in a recent year.

Pronounced CARE-ee.

As of October 2026, Carey ranked #6519 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #353 in 1957.