Tarry Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAIR-ee /ˈtæri/
Origin: English; Scottish
Meaning: English: hill; Scottish: from the hill
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tarry is believed to derive from the Old French name "Tari," which itself is rooted in the Latin word "tardus," meaning "slow" or "late." This Latin term has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European root *ter-, which conveys the idea of being slow or sluggish. The transition from Latin to Old French occurred during the medieval period, particularly as the Norman Conquest in the 11th century facilitated the integration of Latin and Old French into the English language.
Consequently, Tarry emerged in English as a name reflecting these earlier linguistic influences. Historically, the name Tarry has been associated with various cultural and religious contexts.
In the biblical tradition, the concept of tarrying is often linked to waiting or lingering, as seen in several passages of the Bible. This notion was further popularized in the 17th century with the translation of the King James Bible, which used the term in contexts that emphasized patience and perseverance.
While Tarry itself is not a prominent biblical name, its thematic connections to waiting and steadfastness resonate with the values expressed in biblical narratives. Culturally, the name Tarry may evoke associations with patience and endurance, qualities that have been celebrated in various literary and artistic works throughout history.
The name's simplicity and phonetic appeal contribute to its charm, allowing it to endure in various forms. A diminutive form, "Tarry" can also be seen as a variant of "Terry," which has its own distinct etymological roots, deriving from the name "Terence," a Roman family name that became popular in medieval Europe.
Overall, Tarry encapsulates a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural significance that reflects broader themes of waiting and resilience.
Famous people named Tarry
In this section, you will find notable people named Tarry. 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 Tarry who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tarry 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.
Tarry Hargreaves is a musician best known for his work with the band The Hargreaves.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tarry, 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 Tarry. 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 Tarry was first seen in the United States in 1940.
Tarry has ranked as high as #3690 nationally, which occurred in 1969, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Tarry has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tarry 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 Tarry 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 Tarry.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1981 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1977 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1976 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1972 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1971 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1969 | 29 | 16 | 13 |
| 1968 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1967 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 1966 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1965 | 15 | 9 | 6 |
| 1964 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1963 | 29 | 17 | 12 |
| 1962 | 28 | 18 | 10 |
| 1961 | 24 | 12 | 12 |
| 1960 | 23 | 15 | 8 |
| 1959 | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| 1958 | 22 | 13 | 9 |
| 1957 | 26 | 17 | 9 |
| 1956 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1955 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1954 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1953 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1952 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1951 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1950 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1949 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1948 | 18 | 10 | 8 |
| 1947 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 1946 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 1944 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1943 | 19 | 13 | 6 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1941 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1940 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Top States for Tarry
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.