Perry
Boy name · #1370 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Perry? In official American birth records, Perry has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Perry ranks #1370 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 135 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1279, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,333 boys born in 2025 was named Perry.
Babies named Perry per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Perry first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 134 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 2,751 boys were named Perry — good for #132 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 Perry against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Perry in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Perry is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Perry will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Perry is most common
State-level data for Perry 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 Perry
Statistically, parents drawn to Perry tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Terry, Barry, Kerry, Larry, and Jerry.
TerryBarryKerryLarryJerryJefferyRickyRandy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Perry | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 135 | #1370 |
| 2024 | 161 | #1238 |
| 2023 | 136 | #1369 |
| 2022 | 137 | #1366 |
| 2021 | 145 | #1300 |
| 2020 | 146 | #1259 |
| 2019 | 133 | #1347 |
| 2018 | 135 | #1335 |
| 2017 | 147 | #1245 |
| 2016 | 122 | #1421 |
| 2015 | 140 | #1279 |
| 2014 | 151 | #1213 |
| 2013 | 139 | #1255 |
| 2012 | 144 | #1226 |
| 2011 | 149 | #1183 |
| 2010 | 131 | #1309 |
| 2009 | 163 | #1132 |
| 2008 | 166 | #1105 |
| 2007 | 184 | #1025 |
| 2006 | 195 | #954 |
| 2005 | 193 | #914 |
| 2004 | 226 | #798 |
| 2003 | 217 | #800 |
| 2002 | 231 | #749 |
| 2001 | 245 | #719 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Perry?
In official American birth records, the name Perry first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 134 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Perry a popular boy name?
Perry ranked #1370 among boys in 2025 with 135 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1279.
When was the name Perry most popular?
Perry peaked in 1959, when 2,751 American boys received the name (ranked #132 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Perry?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,333 newborn American boys was named Perry. 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.