Total births
1,962
Unisex name · since 1936
Kary
1,962 babies named Kary in U.S. Social Security records since 1936, with the highest year being 1972. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 1,962
- total births
- 1936–2023
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1,962 girls have been named Kary since 1936, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Kary recorded 1,962 times among girls since 1936, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1936 to 2023.
- 1,962 total births
- 1936–2023 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,962 girls have been named Kary since 1936, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2023.
- 1,962
- total births
- 1936–2023
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Kary was born in this single decade.
1972
Single peak year
76 babies were named Kary in 1972 - its busiest year on record.
Kary's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kary splits its recorded history at 1982: 34% of all births land in the more recent half, 66% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1936 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1972 peak of 76 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kary at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1972
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1936
Kary popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1936–2023
- Peak year (1972)
- 76
- Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
Kary popularity over time - boys
1,416 total births recorded since 1917 (Kary as boys' name)
Kary by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Kary's strongest decade.
571 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Kary births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 10
1930s
10 births
- 1940s 59
1940s
59 births
- 1950s 189
1950s
189 births
- 1960s
1960s
397 births
- 1970s
1970s
571 births
- 1980s
1980s
301 births
- 1990s 192
1990s
192 births
- 2000s 144
2000s
144 births
- 2010s 72
2010s
72 births
- 2020s 27
2020s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 571 births (29% of all-time use).
How Kary compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Kary's total volume
Kary vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Kary by state
Where Kary concentrates geographically, total births since 1936
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 143 | 7.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 29 | 1.5% |
| #3 | New York | | 27 | 1.4% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 25 | 1.3% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 16 | 0.8% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 16 | 0.8% |
| #7 | Arizona | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Florida | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Kary's total US births 7.3%
Even split
143 of 1,962 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kary? ▼
1,962 babies have been named Kary since 1936. It was last recorded in 2023. The peak year was 1972 with 76 births.
When was Kary most popular? ▼
Kary was most popular in the 1970s decade with 571 total births. The single peak year was 1972.
Where is Kary most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kary are California (143 births), Texas (29 births), New York (27 births).
Is Kary a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Kary is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,962 births, and as a boy's name it has 1,416 births.
How long has the name Kary been used? ▼
Kary has been recorded in Social Security data since 1936, spanning 88 years of data through 2023.
What names are similar to Kary? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Karen, Kara, Karla, Karina, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Kary's data
- Kary's decade-level peak was the 1970s (571 total births); usage has since declined to 27 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Karys (143 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kary
Nearby Names Like Kary
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kary
Karen Girl
#1251 987,989 births
Kara Girl
#990 101,743 births
Karla Girl
#733 91,586 births
Karina Girl
#772 61,464 births
Kari Girl
#1843 59,696 births
Compare Kary side by side: Kary vs Karen Kary vs Kara Kary vs Karla
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1936–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kary: Baby Name Since 1936 - 1,962 Births, Peak 1972." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kary. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kary draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.