Kerry is a unisex name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Kerry means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Kerry across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Kerry has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Kerry is a unisex name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “from County Kerry”. From the Irish place name Ciarrai, meaning people of Ciar.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 98,644 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,838 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 5,110 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 249 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 616 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 4,321 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Kerry per year, United States (1920 to 2025). United States peaked in 1960 (3,127/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (337/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1978 (279/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2004 (30/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1997 (29/yr).
Kerry has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 1960, when it ranked #261 nationally (given to 3,127 babies that year).
Keira · Garry · Kerri · Keri · Kierra · Gerry
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