Dary
Primarily a boy's name of Khmer origin with 144 recorded births. Also given to 24 girls.
Meaning & Origin
nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of dar
Dary is a boy's and girl's baby name of Khmer origin, from the Cambodian dariy or a variant, meaning 'star' in the Khmer language of Cambodia. Used in Khmer families, it carries the celestial aspiration of starlight — a child named for the stars that appear over the Mekong River at night and have guided travelers and farmers for millennia.
Dary carries the Khmer sky — the stars over Cambodia that watched the Angkor kings build their temples to mirror the heavens, a name from one of Southeast Asia's oldest civilizations that looks up rather than down for its deepest aspirations.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Dary belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their sharp, distinct ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Khmer naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Khmer names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Dary’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dary has 23+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1955.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | — |
| 2010s | 5 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 12 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 22 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 14 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 49 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 32 | — |
The Story of Dary
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1958, Dary is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Dary are most likely born between 1955 and 1968.
How rare is Dary?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Dary — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1955, peaked in the 1960s with 49 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dary by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(23 years, 1955–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #12692 |
| 2016 | 5 | #12623 |
| 2008 | 6 | #11372 |
| 2005 | 6 | #10392 |
| 1994 | 5 | #9109 |
| 1987 | 5 | #7195 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5267 |
| 1983 | 5 | #6449 |
| 1982 | 5 | #6577 |
| 1975 | 5 | #5653 |
| 1970 | 9 | #3337 |
| 1968 | 9 | #2953 |
| 1967 | 8 | #3045 |
| 1966 | 5 | #4066 |
| 1965 | 8 | #3037 |
| 1964 | 5 | #4172 |
| 1961 | 9 | #2943 |
| 1960 | 5 | #4158 |
| 1959 | 5 | #4120 |
| 1958 | 9 | #2877 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Dary as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Dary has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 24 births since 1982.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dary a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dary most popular?
How popular is the name Dary?
Can Dary be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1955–2024