Home βΊ Baby Names Directory βΊ Barry
Barry
β Boy
Pronounced BAIR-ee /ΛbΓ¦r.iΛ/Low
Meaning: Fair-haired, white-headedLow
In 30 seconds: Barry is an Irish name derived from Bairre (a short form of Fionnbarra meaning fair-haired) or from Bearach (meaning sharp or spear). A popular mid-20th-century name, it carries warm Irish heritage.
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MeaningFair-haired, white-headed
U.S. rank (2025)#1520 β Falling
2025 U.S. births114 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1962
Total births (all-time)β 181,269
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Barry is from the Irish Bairre, a short form of Fionnbarra meaning fair-haired, or from Bearach meaning sharp. It has been used in Ireland and English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century.
Barry was popular in the United States in the mid-20th century and carries warm vintage quality.
Did you know? Barry Manilow, Barry White, and Barry Obama (Barack's boyhood nickname) show the extraordinary range of personalities who have borne this name β from pop romance to soul music to the presidency of the United States.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
BarrieBariBearach
Nicknames
Bar
Famous Bearers
- β
Barry White (1944-2003)American soul and R&B singer-songwriter known for his deep bass voice and hits like You're the First, the Last, My Everything
- β
Barry Gibb (b. 1946)British singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Bee Gees, one of the most commercially successful pop groups in history
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Frequently Asked
What does Barry mean?
Fair-haired, white-headed
How do you pronounce Barry?
Barry is pronounced BAIR-ee.
What is the origin of Barry?
Barry comes from Irish, Celtic.
What names are similar to Barry?
Similar names include gary, larry, perry.