Parry

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Parry

Pronounced PAIR-ee /ˈpɛr.i/Medium

Meaning: Parry comes from the Welsh patronymic ap Harry, meaning son of Harry, which contracted into the single surname Parry and was later used as a given name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Parry is a Welsh surname name meaning son of Harry, later given as a first name. It reached a handful of American boys in the mid nineteen-sixties (said PAIR-ee).

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Origin MediumWelsh

MeaningParry comes from the Welsh patronymic ap Harry, meaning son of Harry, which contracted into the single surname Parry and was later used as a given name.

U.S. rank (1999)#9566 ↘ Falling

1999 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1965

Total births (all-time)≈ 508

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

Parry is a classic Welsh patronymic surname, formed when ap Harry, son of Harry, was squeezed into a single word. Like many British surnames it was later handed on as a first name, and it appeared for American boys only sparingly, touching a small high around 1965.

It was never common, given to only about twenty boys a year even at its peak, and it had faded by the end of the century. A boy named Parry at that high would be in his early sixties today. The name still reads as a tidy, slightly old-fashioned surname-name rather than a revival pick.

Did you know? Parry began as the Welsh ap Harry, son of Harry, the same kind of contraction that produced Powell from ap Hywel and Pritchard from ap Richard.

Overall data confidence 62%

References - Parry — Welsh ap Harry, son of Harry; surname used as given name

Variations

ParriParrie

Nicknames

ParParr

Famous Bearers

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If you like Parry…

Perry— the near-twin surname name it echoes in sound

Barry— a like two-beat name of British roots

Harry— the parent name inside its meaning

Larry— a familiar -arry name of the same era

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Parry mean?

It is a Welsh surname name from ap Harry, meaning son of Harry.

How do you pronounce Parry?

It is said PAIR-ee /ˈpɛr.i/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Parry a boy or girl name?

Parry is used here as a boys name.

How popular is Parry?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the mid nineteen-sixties.