Kerrye
A feminine English variant of the Irish Kerry, meaning "fertile place".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kerrye. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kerrye today is around 62 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kerrye births was 1961 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kerrye. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Kerrye. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1961
6 babies that year
Average age
62
years old
1961 SSA rank
#6,197
Tracked since 1961
Popularity
Kerrye: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kerrye by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Kerrye during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kerrye
The name Kerrye is a unique and relatively obscure name with a rich history that can be traced back to ancient Celtic cultures. It is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "ciar," which means "dark" or "black," and was likely used to describe someone with dark hair or complexion.
In the early Middle Ages, the name Kerrye was primarily found in Ireland and parts of Scotland, where it was associated with the Gaelic language and culture. It may have been used as a nickname or a diminutive form of more common names such as Ciarán or Kiera.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kerrye can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a Chronicle of Medieval Irish history. In the year 1021, a man named Kerrye mac Donnchada is mentioned as a chieftain of the Uí Cheinnselaigh, a powerful Irish dynasty.
Throughout the centuries, the name Kerrye has been relatively rare, but there are a few notable individuals who have carried this name. In the 14th century, Kerrye O'Conchobhair was a renowned Irish poet and bard who composed works in the Gaelic tradition.
In the 16th century, Kerrye MacLean was a Scottish chieftain and warrior who played a significant role in the clan battles of the Western Isles. He was known for his bravery and leadership during the tumultuous times of the Scottish clan wars.
Another notable figure was Kerrye O'Rourke, an Irish noblewoman who lived in the 17th century. She was a prominent landowner and patron of the arts, known for her support of Gaelic poets and storytellers.
In more recent times, Kerrye Fowler was an American writer and journalist who published several works in the late 19th century, including a collection of short stories titled "Tales of the Emerald Isle."
While the name Kerrye has remained relatively uncommon, it continues to carry a rich cultural heritage and a connection to the ancient Celtic languages and traditions. Its unique spelling and pronunciation make it a distinctive and intriguing name that stands out from more common names.
People
Kerrye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kerrye as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kerrye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kerrye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kerrye going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kerrye a common name?
We classify Kerrye as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Kerrye most popular?
The single biggest year for Kerrye was 1961, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kerrye is about 62 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Kerrye in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kerrye a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kerrye in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Kerrye still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kerrye in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Kerrye can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Kerrye?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.