Barry
Boy name · #1520 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Barry? In official American birth records, Barry has been tracked continuously since 1883, giving it 142 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 114 baby boys were named Barry, placing it at #1520 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1266, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,789 boys born in 2025 was named Barry.
Babies named Barry per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 142-year story
Barry first appears in the Social Security records in 1883, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1962, when 6,585 boys were named Barry — good for #61 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Barry against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Barry in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Barry is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Barry will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Barry is most common
State-level data for Barry is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Barry
Statistically, parents drawn to Barry tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Perry, Terry, Kerry, Larry, and Jerry.
PerryTerryKerryLarryJerryJefferyMontyKelly
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Barry | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 114 | #1520 |
| 2024 | 131 | #1413 |
| 2023 | 104 | #1650 |
| 2022 | 124 | #1457 |
| 2021 | 121 | #1479 |
| 2020 | 135 | #1325 |
| 2019 | 144 | #1287 |
| 2018 | 155 | #1207 |
| 2017 | 136 | #1321 |
| 2016 | 170 | #1134 |
| 2015 | 142 | #1266 |
| 2014 | 124 | #1375 |
| 2013 | 103 | #1540 |
| 2012 | 113 | #1458 |
| 2011 | 119 | #1395 |
| 2010 | 120 | #1390 |
| 2009 | 149 | #1209 |
| 2008 | 157 | #1154 |
| 2007 | 159 | #1129 |
| 2006 | 169 | #1058 |
| 2005 | 157 | #1053 |
| 2004 | 175 | #957 |
| 2003 | 199 | #867 |
| 2002 | 193 | #859 |
| 2001 | 210 | #799 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Barry?
In official American birth records, the name Barry first appeared in 1883 (over 142 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Barry a popular boy name?
Barry ranked #1520 among boys in 2025 with 114 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1266.
When was the name Barry most popular?
Barry peaked in 1962, when 6,585 American boys received the name (ranked #61 that year). Since 1962 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Barry?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,789 newborn American boys was named Barry. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.