Cary

Last seen for girls in 2024 at #15,293 · #3,658 for boys in 2025, 30 births
Given to boys 82.2% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1966 · 763 births
Debut · boys
17 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
24,504
since 1880

Cary over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201956peak #722, 1975peak #264, 1966girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#3,65830
2024#15,2935#3,52432
2023—#4,45623
2022—#3,21637
2021—#3,91227
2020—#3,91826
2019—#2,94341
2018#15,6825#4,47622
2017#15,9025#3,51831
2016—#3,23035
2015—#3,43132
2014#13,0697#4,53821
2013#14,5826#4,31322
2012#16,8695#3,71428
2011#11,1819#3,60529
2010#13,4487#4,09924
2009#13,7047#4,03525
2008#13,8327#3,28634
2007#12,6768#3,18835
2006—#3,68627
2005#7,89114#3,31930
2004#9,26411#2,95334
2003—#2,57939
2002#11,1088#2,75534
2001#7,72413#2,11749
2000#5,70519#1,94453
1999#6,19116#2,02347
1998#5,58318#1,40681
1997#4,50823#1,36681
1996#3,94227#1,53365
1995#4,51822#1,24487
1994#4,23824#1,096105
1993#4,10025#1,038113
1992#3,50331#961125
1991#3,20734#882143
1990#2,52347#812157
1989#2,44247#751172
1988#2,59741#746161
1987#2,53140#682177
1986#2,26545#665182
1985#1,76064#625197
1984#1,68465#643179
1983#1,42382#682157
1982#1,55176#653177
1981#1,30497#628186
1980#1,43385#626195
1979#1,261101#609198
1978#1,037131#547231
1977#872165#495270
1976#780183#430325
1975#722204#405360
1974#779177#459306
1973#842154#396385
1972#837156#388411
1971#781186#336543
1970#864155#331570
1969#936129#304622
1968#927125#287663
1967#973110#290629
1966#1,27372#264763
1965#1,21878#286689
1964#1,29374#282749
1963#973119#279764
1962#1,043107#275784
1961#983121#315624
1960#987118#286760
1959#929127#283779
1958#911127#315583
1957#970114#268788
1956#893125#315556
1955#1,10681#335490
1954#1,18072#317510
1953#1,12175#342407
1952#1,35151#324462
1951#1,46241#327442
1950#1,45240#323443
1949#1,39344#325447
1948#1,59834#319436
1947#1,63334#362357
1946#1,61730#370305
1945#1,82521#387237
1944#1,69824#381248
1943#1,55629#380261
1942#1,98119#425207
1941#2,66811#443175
1940#1,74521#501134
1939#1,73120#58197
1938#2,11315#59099
1937#3,1468#70073
1936#1,59322#65380
1935#2,09515#79061
1934#2,42412#82258
1933#2,16114#83455
1932#2,13015#1,00443
1931#3,2268#95947
1930#2,69011#91553
1929#2,43713#1,02644
1928#2,62312#1,04144
1927#2,02619#92455
1926#3,2699#1,09242
1925#2,01819#93352
1924#2,30816#90759
1923#2,16917#88259
1922#2,61213#89160
1921#2,76212#77275
1920#2,73112#87761
1919#1,80121#87757
1918#1,80521#94350
1917#2,31614#85556
1916#2,24614#98442
1915#2,38412#84653
1914#2,26510#98632
1913#1,88311#93028
1912#1,62012#1,02320
1911—#68921
1910#1,7738#59823
1909#2,2085#53024
1908#2,1015#74413
1907#1,8216#69914
1906—#59016
1905#1,4208#66613
1904#1,8775#68612
1903#1,02712#7839
1902—#65112
1901—#68310
1900#1,9325#74312
1899—#7868
1898#1,7005#70110
1897#1,3856#65211
1896—#42421
1895#1,4266#64011
1894—#46418
1893#1,2776#45916
1892—#64111
1891—#7008
1890#1,0997#6679
1889#1,2795#58111
1888—#48416
1887—#6319
1886—#51213
1885—#43917
1884—#6639
1883—#59710
1882#7407#51413
1881—#50312
1880—#42517
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Cary was already there! It came in at #425, and was given to 17 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1889–1892, when fewer than 12 boys a year got the name.

Where Cary is popular in 1956

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedNHWashington: #263 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,179 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #236 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,634 boysMNIllinois: #209 for boys · 59 births · 1 in 1,904 boysILWisconsin: #278 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 5,085 boysWIMichigan: #289 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 4,549 boysMINew York: #307 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 4,407 boysNYMassachusetts: #249 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 6,184 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedRIOregon: #204 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,788 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedSDIowa: #195 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,918 boysIAIndiana: #280 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 3,949 boysINOhio: #335 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 6,088 boysOHPennsylvania: #352 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 8,207 boysPANew Jersey: #348 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 7,368 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #288 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 2,996 boysCAUtah: #228 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,502 boysUTColorado: #226 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,852 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedNEMissouri: #272 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 3,209 boysMOKentucky: #370 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,057 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedWVVirginia: #284 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,962 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedDEArizona: #291 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,359 boysAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedNMKansas: #277 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,096 boysKSArkansas: #269 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,260 boysARTennessee: #442 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 8,193 boysTNNorth Carolina: #401 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 5,549 boysNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Cary, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #314 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,548 boysOKLouisiana: #291 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,485 boysLAMississippi: #319 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,171 boysMSAlabama: #438 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,662 boysALGeorgia: #297 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 2,787 boysGAHawaii: #220 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,229 boysHITexas: #355 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 3,021 boysTXFlorida: #260 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 2,247 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Iowa#195 · 1 in 1,918
  2. Oregon#204 · 1 in 1,788
  3. Illinois#209 · 1 in 1,904
  4. Hawaii#220 · 1 in 1,229
  5. Colorado#226 · 1 in 1,852

Best ever in a state: #116 in North Dakota, 1964.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Iowa#195161 in 1,918
Oregon#204101 in 1,788
Illinois#209591 in 1,904
Hawaii#22061 in 1,229
Colorado#226111 in 1,852
Utah#22881 in 1,502
Minnesota#236111 in 3,634
Massachusetts#24991 in 6,184
Florida#260211 in 2,247
Washington#263101 in 3,179
Arkansas#26991 in 2,260
Missouri#272151 in 3,209
Kansas#27781 in 3,096
Wisconsin#27891 in 5,085
Indiana#280141 in 3,949
Virginia#284151 in 2,962
California#288561 in 2,996
Michigan#289221 in 4,549
Arizona#29161 in 2,359
Louisiana#291171 in 2,485
Georgia#297181 in 2,787
New York#307401 in 4,407
Oklahoma#31471 in 3,548
Mississippi#31991 in 3,171
Ohio#335191 in 6,088
New Jersey#34881 in 7,368
Pennsylvania#352151 in 8,207
Texas#355411 in 3,021
Kentucky#37061 in 6,057
North Carolina#401101 in 5,549
Alabama#43861 in 6,662
Tennessee#44251 in 8,193
Alaska———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Maine———
Maryland———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Cary
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 134 spots since 2024 (#3,524 → #3,658)
  • 260 spots since 2020 (#3,918 → #3,658)
  • 227 spots since 2015 (#3,431 → #3,658)
  • Biggest jump: 224 spots in 1885 (#663 → #439)
  • Biggest drop: 334 spots in 1912 (#689 → #1,023)
Rise & fade · boys
86 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1966 at #264 (763 births)
  • Births halved by 1974, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 108 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 108 yrs · run 1933–1992
Share of babies · boys
1 in 2,337
  • Highest: 1 in 2,337 boys born in 1966 were named Cary (0.04%)
  • Latest: 1 in 56,936 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1960s
  • 28.8% of all boys named Cary (7,047) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1904
  • Mostly girls until 1903, mostly boys since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s127#425 (1880)#535
1890s123#424 (1896)#613
1900s135#530 (1909)#678
1910s382#598 (1910)#873
1920s551#772 (1921)#935
1930s666#581 (1939)#785
1940s2,807#319 (1948)#389
1950s5,460#268 (1957)#315
1960s7,047#264 (1966)#287
1970s3,599#331 (1970)#440
1980s1,783#625 (1985)#670
1990s1,004#812 (1990)#1,236
2000s360#1,944 (2000)#2,986
2010s285#2,943 (2019)#3,787
2020s175#3,216 (2022)#3,781

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Cary in 1956

girls
#893
125 births · 1 in 16,062 girls
boys
#315
556 births · 1 in 3,805 boys

Top girls' names in 1956

  1. #1Mary61,741
  2. #2Debra48,324
  3. #3Linda48,084
  4. #4Deborah47,834
  5. #5Susan46,558
  6. #6Patricia43,329
  7. #7Karen40,052
  8. #8Cynthia32,339
  9. #9Barbara32,302
  10. #10Donna29,852
  11. #893Cary125

Top boys' names in 1956

  1. #1Michael90,691
  2. #2James84,897
  3. #3Robert83,924
  4. #4David81,652
  5. #5John80,804
  6. #6William58,991
  7. #7Richard52,915
  8. #8Mark48,828
  9. #9Thomas44,836
  10. #10Steven38,413
  11. #315Cary556
More about 1956

girls

2,007,703 girls got a published name in 1956; 1 in 16,062 of them was named Cary, which outranked 87.0% of the 6,891 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Cary
  1. #888Kathey126
  2. #888Mickie126
  3. #888Ronna126
  4. #893Cary125
  5. #893Callie125
  6. #893Camilla125
  7. #893Romona125
  8. #897Dayna124
  9. #897Jacque124
  10. #897Juliet124

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1955
Risers
  1. ↑ 993Sheena#1,839 → #846
  2. ↑ 770Glendora#1,733 → #963
  3. ↑ 684Leesa#1,209 → #525
  4. ↑ 543Marisa#1,074 → #531
  5. ↑ 537Dani#1,383 → #846
Fallers
  1. ↓ 513Sheilah#663 → #1,176
  2. ↓ 481Jeryl#768 → #1,249
  3. ↓ 344Jacalyn#496 → #840
  4. ↓ 325Roni#536 → #861
  5. ↓ 314Florine#984 → #1,298

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,115,302 boys got a published name in 1956; 1 in 3,805 of them was named Cary, which outranked 92.9% of the 4,455 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 31.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Cary
  1. #311Shawn569
  2. #313Teddy562
  3. #314Lorenzo560
  4. #315Cary556
  5. #316Jeffry553
  6. #317Isaac552
  7. #318Preston549
Biggest movers since 1955
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,847Jace#2,764 → #917
  2. ↑ 678Rich#1,572 → #894
  3. ↑ 590Broderick#1,273 → #683
  4. ↑ 559Elvis#921 → #362
  5. ↑ 513Tracey#1,419 → #906
Fallers
  1. ↓ 351Adolphus#906 → #1,257
  2. ↓ 336Randolf#949 → #1,285
  3. ↓ 279Cordell#792 → #1,071
  4. ↓ 272Rudolfo#885 → #1,157
  5. ↓ 269Aurelio#949 → #1,218

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1956 →