Kerry

#5,554 for girls in 2025, 22 births · #2,451 for boys in 2025, 55 births
Given to boys 50.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1960 · 2,176 births
Debut · boys
6 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
49,969
since 1921

Kerry over time

girlsboys

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

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201979peak #145, 1971peak #158, 1960girlsboys
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#5,55422#2,45155
2024#11,1228#2,67449
2023#8,05513#3,34735
2022#6,70717#2,49355
2021#6,96716#2,91842
2020#5,31423#2,98039
2019#5,61222#2,85143
2018#6,79217#2,50751
2017#4,57630#2,29557
2016#4,63230#2,41253
2015#5,12726#2,18962
2014#4,00337#2,17562
2013#3,84939#1,94271
2012#5,11427#2,38053
2011#4,15135#2,14561
2010#4,73530#2,06965
2009#4,57132#1,99070
2008#4,17937#1,76085
2007#3,60145#1,72187
2006#2,51273#1,51999
2005#2,25480#1,282120
2004#2,10086#971172
2003#1,845100#1,269112
2002#1,370141#1,115130
2001#1,295149#1,035142
2000#1,120182#1,061135
1999#1,021200#961150
1998#1,004199#939150
1997#772272#788188
1996#722290#798181
1995#709295#748206
1994#643339#674235
1993#613373#599296
1992#540438#609288
1991#497477#487414
1990#446556#483402
1989#437560#465409
1988#403599#439421
1987#352670#436409
1986#344699#382481
1985#349672#351525
1984#321730#356512
1983#297786#418383
1982#264938#406417
1981#267939#398418
1980#2591,000#394431
1979#251994#373462
1978#2171,154#358463
1977#2021,300#334540
1976#1761,449#305582
1975#1631,676#294646
1974#1581,729#268710
1973#1481,874#272681
1972#1481,910#265733
1971#1452,206#253878
1970#1761,831#243967
1969#1761,854#235976
1968#1861,735#2141,085
1967#2311,258#2061,123
1966#2621,032#1951,241
1965#289921#1771,471
1964#2611,177#1761,563
1963#2581,163#1701,724
1962#2711,092#1671,900
1961#2871,040#1612,027
1960#302951#1582,176
1959#336792#1781,703
1958#329806#1941,439
1957#321813#1751,747
1956#321740#1831,588
1955#348615#1741,601
1954#359582#1701,662
1953#358569#1941,264
1952#348556#1941,167
1951#362491#1911,183
1950#362478#1971,062
1949#401395#210926
1948#488273#235750
1947#606196#248704
1946#646149#292489
1945#663124#339310
1944#599150#345297
1943#83287#429211
1942#1,22942#524135
1941#1,56925#541120
1940#1,68222#560112
1939#2,73610#62987
1938#2,57911#73070
1937#2,44812#75765
1936#3,1038#66079
1935#4,2045#548110
1934#3,8026#95644
1933—#1,58619
1932#3,5687#1,50922
1931—#1,58920
1930—#1,60221
1929—#2,00215
1928—#2,8439
1927#4,8055#2,19314
1926—#2,72510
1925#4,4266#2,19314
1924—#2,34713
1923—#3,4677
1922—#4,3075
1921—#3,8696
1920#4,9755—
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First appearance
1921

The first year at least five boys were named Kerry! It came in at #3,869, and was given to 6 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1921–1923, when fewer than 8 boys a year got the name.

Where Kerry is popular in 1979

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedNHWashington: #324 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,293 boysWAIdaho: #221 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,684 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedMNIllinois: #475 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 5,583 boysILWisconsin: #333 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 4,933 boysWIMichigan: #458 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 6,703 boysMINew York: #458 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 5,287 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedRIOregon: #287 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,766 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedIAIndiana: #260 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,737 boysINOhio: #353 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 4,729 boysOHPennsylvania: #298 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 4,004 boysPANew Jersey: #527 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 7,073 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #681 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 9,985 boysCAUtah: #225 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,901 boysUTColorado: #355 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,628 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedNEMissouri: #309 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,339 boysMOKentucky: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedWVVirginia: #354 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,697 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #320 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,049 boysNMKansas: #245 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,104 boysKSArkansas: #255 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,992 boysARTennessee: #282 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,527 boysTNNorth Carolina: #422 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,695 boysNCSouth Carolina: #273 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,914 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #189 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,334 boysOKLouisiana: #174 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 851 boysLAMississippi: #205 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,183 boysMSAlabama: #182 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,080 boysALGeorgia: #242 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,708 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Kerry, so not publishedHITexas: #364 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 2,868 boysTXFlorida: #428 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 4,211 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Louisiana#174 · 1 in 851
  2. Alabama#182 · 1 in 1,080
  3. Oklahoma#189 · 1 in 1,334
  4. Mississippi#205 · 1 in 1,183
  5. Idaho#221 · 1 in 1,684

Best ever in a state: #43 in Utah, 1954.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Louisiana#174411 in 851
Alabama#182251 in 1,080
Oklahoma#189161 in 1,334
Mississippi#205161 in 1,183
Idaho#22151 in 1,684
Utah#225101 in 1,901
Georgia#242231 in 1,708
Kansas#24581 in 2,104
Arkansas#25581 in 1,992
Indiana#260151 in 2,737
South Carolina#273111 in 1,914
Tennessee#282131 in 2,527
Oregon#28771 in 2,766
Pennsylvania#298191 in 4,004
Missouri#309111 in 3,339
New Mexico#32051 in 2,049
Washington#32491 in 3,293
Wisconsin#33371 in 4,933
Ohio#353171 in 4,729
Virginia#35491 in 3,697
Colorado#35561 in 3,628
Texas#364431 in 2,868
North Carolina#42281 in 4,695
Florida#428131 in 4,211
Michigan#458101 in 6,703
New York#458211 in 5,287
Illinois#475151 in 5,583
New Jersey#52761 in 7,073
California#681181 in 9,985
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Iowa———
Kentucky———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
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 Kerry
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 223 spots since 2024 (#2,674 → #2,451)
  • 529 spots since 2020 (#2,980 → #2,451)
  • 262 spots since 2015 (#2,189 → #2,451)
  • Biggest jump: 630 spots in 1934 (#1,586 → #956)
  • Biggest drop: 311 spots in 2005 (#971 → #1,282)
Rise & fade · boys
39 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1921
  • Peaked 1960 at #158 (2,176 births)
  • Births halved by 1968, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 67 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 67 yrs · run 1934–1999
Share of babies · boys
1 in 980
  • Highest: 1 in 980 boys born in 1960 were named Kerry (0.10%)
  • Latest: 1 in 31,056 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · boys
The 1960s
  • 30.6% of all boys named Kerry (15,286) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 2003
  • Mostly girls until 2002, mostly boys since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1920s93#2,002 (1929)#2,883
1930s537#548 (1935)#1,057
1940s4,054#210 (1949)#372
1950s14,416#170 (1954)#185
1960s15,286#158 (1960)#186
1970s6,662#243 (1970)#297
1980s4,406#351 (1985)#405
1990s2,510#483 (1990)#709
2000s1,152#971 (2004)#1,372
2010s578#1,942 (2013)#2,297
2020s275#2,451 (2025)#2,811

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.

Kerry in 1979

girls
#251
994 births · 1 in 1,615 girls
boys
#373
462 births · 1 in 3,726 boys

Top girls' names in 1979

  1. #1Jennifer56,712
  2. #2Melissa34,050
  3. #3Amanda31,924
  4. #4Jessica27,780
  5. #5Amy21,609
  6. #6Sarah21,015
  7. #7Heather20,834
  8. #8Angela20,256
  9. #9Nicole19,510
  10. #10Michelle19,266
  11. #251Kerry994

Top boys' names in 1979

  1. #1Michael67,713
  2. #2Christopher50,659
  3. #3Jason50,369
  4. #4David42,053
  5. #5James39,351
  6. #6Matthew35,621
  7. #7John35,410
  8. #8Robert34,015
  9. #9Joshua31,120
  10. #10Brian28,659
  11. #373Kerry462
More about 1979

girls

1,605,268 girls got a published name in 1979; 1 in 1,615 of them was named Kerry, which outranked 97.9% of the 11,972 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kerry
  1. #248Alexis1,008
  2. #249Jeanette1,007
  3. #250Annette1,000
  4. #251Kerry994
  5. #251Jody994
  6. #253Hannah970
  7. #254Whitney950
  8. #255Connie943

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

Biggest movers since 1978
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,593Breanne#2,125 → #532
  2. ↑ 1,527Loni#2,516 → #989
  3. ↑ 1,287Renata#2,012 → #725
  4. ↑ 985Ashanti#1,862 → #877
  5. ↑ 896Nicolette#1,581 → #685
Fallers
  1. ↓ 392Christel#762 → #1,154
  2. ↓ 312Kenisha#557 → #869
  3. ↓ 297Ariane#887 → #1,184
  4. ↓ 285Imelda#947 → #1,232
  5. ↓ 252Farrah#539 → #791

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

boys

1,721,536 boys got a published name in 1979; 1 in 3,726 of them was named Kerry, which outranked 94.7% of the 7,071 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kerry
  1. #370Logan468
  2. #371Roland466
  3. #372Guy464
  4. #373Kerry462
  5. #374Darius460
  6. #375Max457
  7. #376Johnnie455
Biggest movers since 1978
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,228Tyrel#2,134 → #906
  2. ↑ 471Jace#1,186 → #715
  3. ↑ 387Chaz#1,371 → #984
  4. ↑ 311Tyrell#1,051 → #740
  5. ↑ 308Frederic#1,203 → #895
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,230Dequan#927 → #2,157
  2. ↓ 641Rahsaan#869 → #1,510
  3. ↓ 446Chip#989 → #1,435
  4. ↓ 308Rashaun#996 → #1,304
  5. ↓ 307Kenya#749 → #1,056

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

See the top 100 for 1979 →