Carey
Carey: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɛəɹi/ · /ˈkɛɚ.i/
Meaning and origin of Carey
Root meaning: “to love”
- A unisex given name.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name, variant of Cary.
Etymology
As a German surname, Americanized from Gehrig, Gehring. * As a Welsh surname, variant of Carew. * As an English surname, from placenames derived from Proto-Brythonic *karɨd (“to love”). * As an Irish surname, from mac Fhiachra (“descendant of Fiachra”), from préachán (“crow”). * Also as an Irish surname, from the root of the name Kerry.
How popular is Carey?
Since 1880, 12,741 girls and 16,880 boys in the U.S. have been named Carey (43% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #304 in 1975. Its highest rank for boys was #353 in 1957. In 2025, 13 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Carey
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname unisex names
Sibling name ideas for Carey
Sister and brother names that share Carey's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Carey FAQ
What does the name Carey mean?
Carey traces back to a root meaning "to love". A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname. A female given name, variant of Cary. As a German surname, Americanized from Gehrig, Gehring. * As a Welsh surname, variant of Carew. * As an English surname, from placenames derived from Proto-Brythonic *karɨd (“to love”). * As an Irish surname, from mac Fhiachra (“descendant of Fiachra”), from préachán (“crow”). * Also as an Irish surname, from the root of the name Kerry.
What is the origin of the name Carey?
Carey is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Carey?
Since 1880, 12,741 girls and 16,880 boys in the U.S. have been named Carey (43% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #304 in 1975. Its highest rank for boys was #353 in 1957. In 2025, 13 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Carey a boy or girl name?
Carey is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (12,741 girls and 16,880 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.