Karey Unisex

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

KaraKylieKiraKaylaKendraKaitlyn

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.

CarlyTarynMarenLaceyAveryDaisyZaraRileySadie

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Karey was first seen in the United States in 1937.

Karey has ranked as high as #1630 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 down 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2015 5 0 5
2009 5 5 0
2008 5 0 5
2005 5 0 5
2004 6 0 6
2003 7 0 7
2002 12 6 6
2001 7 0 7
2000 6 0 6
1999 14 5 9
1998 13 0 13
1997 14 5 9
1996 34 6 28
1995 17 7 10
1994 30 8 22
1993 28 10 18
1992 37 11 26
1991 27 12 15
1990 39 13 26
1989 35 11 24
1988 22 5 17
1987 32 12 20
1986 45 16 29
1985 31 10 21
1984 44 9 35
1983 43 0 43
1982 71 8 63
1981 73 16 57
1980 77 7 70
1979 66 8 58
1978 80 9 71
1977 122 7 115
1976 123 14 109
1975 133 14 119
1974 109 17 92
1973 99 11 88
1972 95 5 90
1971 89 9 80
1970 94 14 80
1969 74 18 56
1968 93 11 82
1967 77 15 62
1966 60 16 44
1965 46 11 35
1964 46 8 38
1963 48 16 32
1962 57 19 38
1961 55 20 35
1960 54 22 32
1959 51 15 36
1958 40 7 33
1957 38 11 27
1956 33 11 22
1955 35 14 21
1954 25 7 18
1953 17 10 7
1952 20 13 7
1951 22 8 14
1950 16 6 10
1949 6 6 0
1948 14 6 8
1947 13 8 5
1946 10 5 5
1945 5 0 5
1944 6 0 6
1943 6 6 0
1941 5 0 5
1937 5 5 0

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. 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
PA 5
100%