Gary
About Gary
When Gary cracked the Top 10 in 1950, it was one of the first nonclassic boys’ names to do so, largely due to Gary (born Frank) Cooper, who was renamed after Gary, Indiana, his agent's hometown. Now, a 65 years later, Gary isn't particularly high in the charts, and has lost any glitter it had. May we suggest the fuller name Gareth?
As of October 2026, Gary ranked #1073 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #9 in 1954, Nameberry popularity #615.
Editor's take: The name Gary is a boy's name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #561 | 493 | 256.7 |
| 2015 | #580 | 479 | 249.9 |
| 2016 | #606 | 444 | 234 |
| 2017 | #637 | 407 | 219.9 |
| 2018 | #671 | 374 | 205.9 |
| 2019 | #774 | 303 | 168.9 |
| 2020 | #806 | 288 | 166.9 |
| 2021 | #908 | 253 | 144.6 |
| 2022 | #956 | 237 | 135.7 |
| 2023 | #1,067 | 203 | 118.7 |
| 2024 | #1,130 | 187 | 108.5 |
| 2025 | #1,073 | 201 | 117.7 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Gary.
Gary on lists
Famous Garys
- Gary Warren Hart
U.S. Senator and diplomat
- Gary Barlow
English TV personality and singer of pop group Take That
- Gary Busey
American actor
- Gary Michael Cole
American actor
- Gary Wayne Coleman
American actor
- Frank James "Gary" Cooper
American actor
- Gary Robert Durdin "Gary Dourdan"
American actor
- Gary Evan Crosby
American actor; son of singer/actor Bing Crosby
- Gary LeRoi Gray
American actor
- (Ernest) Gary Gygax
American creator of the game "Dungeons & Dragons"
- Gary Earl Johnson
American politician; 29th governor of New Mexico
- Gary Lane
American actor; twin brother Larry Lane
- Gary Larson
American cartoonist of The Far Side
- Gary Winston Lineker
English footballer
- (Robert William) Gary Moore
Northern Irish guitarist
- Gary Numan (born Gary Anthony James Webb)
English singer,songwriter
- Gary Leonard Oldman
English actor
- Gary Player
South African pro golfer
- Gary Alan Sinise
American actor
- Gary Lee Usher
American musician, songwriter and producer
- Gary Shirley
American reality TV personality of "Teen Mom"
- Gary C
British vlogger
- Gary Yia Lee (born Lee Yia)
Hmong anthropologist and author
- Gary Medel
Chilean professional footballer
Gary in pop culture
- Gary the Snail
character on animated series "SpongeBob Squarepants"
- Gary Bell
character on TV's "Alphas"
- Gary "Eggsy" Unwin
main character in film "Kingsman: The Secret Service"
- Gary "Gaz" Grailquest
character on TV's "The Worst Witch"
- Gary Walker
character on TV's "Numb3rs"
- Gary Oak
character in Pokemon video game series
- Gary Giggles
character in "Spy Kids" series
- Gary
main character in "Her Pocket Boyfriend" by Tina Tirrell
- Gary
Indiana, USA
- Gary Chalmers aka Superintendent Chalmers
character on "The Simpsons"