Carey

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAIR-ee /ˈkɛr.i/High

Meaning: From the Irish surname O'Ciardha, 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)'; also a Welsh place-name ('by the river Cary'); here for boys; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: The dark one: Carey is the Irish 'descendant of the dark one'. Crisp, soft, and warm. Used for both sexes.

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Origin MediumIrish, Welsh

MeaningFrom the Irish surname O'Ciardha, 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)'; also a Welsh place-name ('by the river Cary'); here for boys; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#6519 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births13 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 16,878

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Carey comes from the Irish surname O'Ciardha, 'descendant of Ciardha', from ciar, 'dark, black' — or from a Welsh place-name, 'one who lives by the river Cary' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, soft surname-name, used for both sexes, here for boys (writer Carey; actor Cary Grant's name echoes it).

It registers thinly today. Rare now, the-dark-one at the (likely) root, and crisp.

Did you know? Carey means 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)' (Irish O'Ciardha) — or 'by the river Cary' (Welsh) — a crisp, soft surname-name, used for both sexes (the routes are layered, which we note).

Overall data confidence 58%

Behind the Name — Carey — routes layered

Variations

CaryCarreyKerry

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Carey…

Cary— a fellow spelling

Kerry— a sound-neighbor Irish name

Corey— a companion Irish surname-name

Casey— another unisex Irish name

Explore names like Carey

By themeuncertain unisex surname-name irish welsh

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Carey mean?

Carey is Irish for 'descendant of Ciardha (the dark one)', or a Welsh river place-name; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Carey?

It's said KAIR-ee /ˈkɛr.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Carey a boy or girl name?

Carey is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Carey?

Carey is a rare name in the U.S. today.