Holding steady.
Popularity of Keary since 1949
Babies named Keary per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 0 | 16 |
| 1950s | 0 | 101 |
| 1960s | 20 | 91 |
| 1970s | 51 | 234 |
| 1980s | 26 | 78 |
| 1990s | 0 | 60 |
| 2000s | 7 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Keary is a rare given name of Irish origin, used in the United States with sporadic frequency since 1949. It peaked in 1974, yet it never achieved enough popularity to rank among the top 1000 names for any year. The name is typically considered a variant of Kerry, linking it to the Irish word for 'dark-haired' or the County Kerry region. Its trajectory has remained stable, with very few newborn registrations annually. Keary is most often chosen by families seeking a distinctive Irish-inspired name that is familiar yet uncommon.
Keary is likely a variant of Kerry, an Irish surname and place name derived from Ciarraí, meaning 'descendants of Ciar' (Ciar being a personal name meaning 'dark-haired'). Alternatively, it may be an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ciardha. As a given name, Keary has seen sporadic use in the United States since the mid-20th century, but it remains uncommon.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Keary
Names that share Keary's style, for a brother or sister.
