Meaning & Origin
A male given name from the Germanic languages, popular from the 1940s to the 1970s; variant form Garry.
Gary is a boy's and girl's baby name of Germanic origin, a short form of Gareth or a derivation of the Old High German Ger, meaning 'spear.' Actor Gary Cooper helped catapult the name to stardom in 1930s Hollywood.
Gary ranked in the U.S. top 5 from the 1940s through the 60s — a quintessential mid-century American name. Its short, punchy sound gives it an everyman charm that still holds up well today.