Karey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KAY-ree //ˈkɛəri//
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: 'pure'; Irish: 'descendant of the warrior'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Karey is believed to be a variant of the name Carrie, which itself is derived from the name Caroline. Caroline has its roots in the Latin name Carolus, meaning "free man." The transition from Carolus to Caroline occurred through the Old French form, Carolin, before entering the English language.
The name Caroline gained prominence in the 18th century, particularly due to its association with various European royals, including Princess Caroline of Ansbach, who became Queen Consort of Great Britain in the early 18th century. As a diminutive form, Carrie became popular in English-speaking countries, leading to the emergence of variations like Karey.
Historically, the name Caroline has been associated with several notable figures, including Saint Caroline, a 19th-century figure known for her charitable works. The name has also appeared in various literary works and translations, such as the King James Bible, where the themes of freedom and nobility resonate with the name's etymological roots.
The name's association with royalty and nobility has contributed to its enduring appeal throughout the centuries. Culturally, names derived from Caroline often symbolize strength, independence, and grace, reflecting the qualities attributed to the historical figures who bore the name.
The evolution of Karey as a variant showcases the linguistic adaptability of names over time, as they are influenced by cultural shifts and societal changes. This adaptability has allowed the name to maintain a connection to its historical significance while also embracing new forms and variations.
Famous people named Karey
In this section, you will find notable people named Karey. 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 Karey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Karey 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.
Karey Kirkpatrick is a screenwriter and director best known for Chicken Run, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Over the Hedge.
Karey O'Brien is a television producer best known for The Amazing Race, Survivor, and The Great Race.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Karey. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Karey was first seen in the United States in 1941.
Karey has ranked as high as #959 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Karey has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Karey 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 Karey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Karey (1983)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 5 |
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 Karey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 1999 | 9 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1997 | 9 |
| 1996 | 28 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1994 | 22 |
| 1993 | 18 |
| 1992 | 26 |
| 1991 | 15 |
| 1990 | 26 |
| 1989 | 24 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 20 |
| 1986 | 29 |
| 1985 | 21 |
| 1984 | 35 |
| 1983 | 43 |
| 1982 | 63 |
| 1981 | 57 |
| 1980 | 70 |
| 1979 | 58 |
| 1978 | 71 |
| 1977 | 115 |
| 1976 | 109 |
| 1975 | 119 |
| 1974 | 92 |
| 1973 | 88 |
| 1972 | 90 |
| 1971 | 80 |
| 1970 | 80 |
| 1969 | 56 |
| 1968 | 82 |
| 1967 | 62 |
| 1966 | 44 |
| 1965 | 35 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1963 | 32 |
| 1962 | 38 |
| 1961 | 35 |
| 1960 | 32 |
| 1959 | 36 |
| 1958 | 33 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 22 |
| 1955 | 21 |
| 1954 | 18 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 7 |
| 1951 | 14 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1948 | 8 |
| 1947 | 5 |
| 1946 | 5 |
| 1945 | 5 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1941 | 5 |