Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Irish.
Barry is a boy's and girl's baby name of Irish origin, an anglicization of the Irish Báire or Barra — a short form of Fionnbarra ("fair-headed") or Bearchan ("pointed, sharp"). Saint Bearchan of Clonard gives it early Irish Christian roots, while the surname Barry is one of Ireland's most recognized.
Barry ranked in the U.S. top 30 boys' names from the 1940s through the 1960s. Barry Manilow, Barry White, and Barry Bonds represent the name across pop music, soul, and professional sports. President Barack Obama's childhood nickname was Barry — a detail that gives this thoroughly likable name an unexpected presidential footnote.