Leary Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEER-ee //ˈlɪəri//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: 'descendant of Laoire'; English: 'spear'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Leary has its roots in the Irish surname O'Laoghaire, which translates to "descendant of Laoghaire." The name Laoghaire itself is derived from the Old Irish elements "laogh," meaning "calf" or "young animal," and "-aire," a suffix indicating a person associated with a particular quality or characteristic. The transition of the name into English occurred through the anglicization of Irish surnames, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries, when many Irish names were adapted to fit English phonetics and spelling conventions.
Historically, the name Laoghaire is associated with a prominent figure in Irish mythology, Laoghaire mac Crimthainn, who was a legendary king of Tara in the 5th century. This connection to a royal lineage adds a layer of historical significance to the name.
Additionally, the name appears in various forms in early medieval texts, reflecting its longstanding presence in Irish culture. The O'Laoghaire family was notable in the province of Munster, and their lineage is documented in several historical records, including the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century.
Culturally, the name Leary and its variants have been embraced in various forms of Irish literature and folklore, symbolizing strength and heritage. The name has also been associated with various saints and religious figures throughout Irish history, further embedding it within the cultural fabric of Ireland.
The diminutive form "Leary" has been used affectionately, reflecting familial and community ties. Overall, the name carries a rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural significance that underscores its enduring legacy in both Irish and English contexts.
Fictional characters named Leary
The following list of fictional characters named Leary 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.
Leary is a fictional character from the film The Last Dragon. He is a member of the gang that opposes the protagonist, Bruce Leroy, in his quest to become a martial arts master.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leary, 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 Leary. 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 Leary was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Leary has ranked as high as #4976 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Leary has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Leary 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 Leary 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 Leary.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1960 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1959 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1955 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1950 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1949 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1948 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1947 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1946 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1943 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1941 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1940 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1939 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1938 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1937 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1936 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1932 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1931 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1928 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1926 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1924 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1921 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1920 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1919 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1912 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Top States for Leary
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.
No state data available for this year.