Carey Unisex

Popularity: #925 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAY-ree //ˈkɛəri//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of the warrior'; English: 'from the marshy place'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Carey has its roots in the Old Irish name "O'Ceara," which means "descendant of Ceara." The name Ceara itself is derived from the word "cear," meaning "dark" or "black," and it is often associated with the color of hair or complexion. The name evolved through various linguistic stages, passing from Old Irish to Anglo-Norman forms before being adopted into Middle English as Carey.

The transition into English was influenced by the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which brought many Gaelic names into the English-speaking world through the integration of Norman and Irish cultures. Historically, the name Carey has been borne by notable figures, including several saints and historical leaders.

One prominent example is Saint Caire, a 6th-century Irish saint, who is sometimes associated with the name. The name also appears in various historical records throughout the Middle Ages, particularly in England and Ireland, where it was often linked to noble families and landowners.

The name's presence in literature and documents from the medieval period helped to solidify its use in English-speaking regions. Culturally, the name Carey has been associated with strength and resilience, reflecting the characteristics attributed to its Gaelic origins.

It has been used in various forms of art and literature, contributing to its enduring legacy. The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Cary," which have been used in different contexts.

Overall, the name Carey carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its linguistic heritage and the notable figures who have borne it throughout the centuries.

Famous people named Carey

In this section, you will find notable people named Carey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Carey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Carey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Carey Mulligan is an actress best known for An Education, Drive, and Promising Young Woman.

Carey Price is a professional ice hockey goaltender best known for playing with the Montreal Canadiens and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy.

Carey Hart is a professional motocross racer and motorcycle stunt rider best known for his appearances in the X Games and his marriage to Pink.

Fictional characters named Carey

The following list of fictional characters named Carey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Carey is a fictional character from the film The Last House on the Left. She is one of the main characters who becomes a victim of a brutal crime, which sets off a chain of events for revenge.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Carey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

CameronCarterColinCalebConnorCody

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Carey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

KieranCadenKellanCoryKoryCaseyKasey

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Carey was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Carey has ranked as high as #441 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Carey has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Carey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Carey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Carey.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 13 13 0
2024 23 18 5
2023 12 12 0
2022 18 11 7
2021 16 7 9
2020 21 12 9
2019 25 18 7
2018 33 23 10
2017 33 22 11
2016 30 24 6
2015 31 23 8
2014 36 21 15
2013 32 24 8
2012 39 28 11
2011 36 29 7
2010 44 26 18
2009 47 28 19
2008 35 27 8
2007 63 39 24
2006 47 32 15
2005 53 27 26
2004 55 33 22
2003 55 26 29
2002 77 49 28
2001 86 50 36
2000 79 40 39
1999 106 51 55
1998 96 45 51
1997 120 66 54
1996 136 73 63
1995 146 73 73
1994 177 81 96
1993 190 102 88
1992 224 124 100
1991 251 131 120
1990 237 141 96
1989 273 142 131
1988 288 167 121
1987 294 140 154
1986 311 158 153
1985 344 169 175
1984 357 156 201
1983 389 168 221
1982 426 171 255
1981 438 165 273
1980 510 168 342
1979 605 198 407
1978 758 224 534
1977 854 253 601
1976 949 256 693
1975 1,058 302 756
1974 957 298 659
1973 839 279 560
1972 763 282 481
1971 855 350 505
1970 733 324 409
1969 717 344 373
1968 659 336 323
1967 580 324 256
1966 472 308 164
1965 433 283 150
1964 484 332 152
1963 497 336 161
1962 508 325 183
1961 491 331 160
1960 507 370 137
1959 574 437 137
1958 550 399 151
1957 601 461 140
1956 524 366 158
1955 499 363 136
1954 539 403 136
1953 427 320 107
1952 419 338 81
1951 357 290 67
1950 340 272 68
1949 241 196 45
1948 284 232 52
1947 255 226 29
1946 204 173 31
1945 148 132 16
1944 168 138 30
1943 158 130 28
1942 162 132 30
1941 126 104 22
1940 109 96 13
1939 99 85 14
1938 119 102 17
1937 99 86 13
1936 100 81 19
1935 99 80 19
1934 107 93 14
1933 75 61 14
1932 88 76 12
1931 73 58 15
1930 72 65 7
1929 89 81 8
1928 66 60 6
1927 83 70 13
1926 92 79 13
1925 79 65 14
1924 82 66 16
1923 83 68 15
1922 92 85 7
1921 79 68 11
1920 79 63 16
1919 95 77 18
1918 63 58 5
1917 92 80 12
1916 78 64 14
1915 71 59 12
1914 81 68 13
1913 49 39 10
1912 43 36 7
1911 14 14 0
1910 31 25 6
1909 13 13 0
1908 17 17 0
1907 11 11 0
1906 21 15 6
1905 26 19 7
1904 17 17 0
1903 16 16 0
1902 17 12 5
1901 11 11 0
1900 26 26 0
1899 19 13 6
1898 22 22 0
1897 20 20 0
1896 15 15 0
1895 22 17 5
1894 12 12 0
1893 11 11 0
1892 25 19 6
1891 11 11 0
1890 11 11 0
1889 15 15 0
1888 13 13 0
1887 16 16 0
1886 5 5 0
1885 13 13 0
1884 24 24 0
1883 19 19 0
1882 18 18 0
1881 8 8 0
1880 19 13 6

Top States for Carey (2015)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
100%