What Does the Name Gary Mean?
Gary is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning “spear.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Gary |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Meaning | spear |
| Variants | Garry, Garey, Gareth, Garrett, Gar |
| Popularity | A US top 10 boys' name in the 1950s. |
The meaning and origin of Gary
The name Gary means “spear” and has Germanic origins. From a Germanic name based on the element ger meaning 'spear'; it spread as a given name in the 20th century, popularized in part by actor Gary Cooper (born Frank) and by the city of Gary, Indiana, named after industrialist Elbert Gary.
Variants and related names
Gary is related to several other names you may recognize: Garry, Garey, Gareth, Garrett, Gar. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Gary?
A US top 10 boys' name in the 1950s.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gary mean?+
The name Gary means “spear” and is of Germanic origin.
What is the origin of the name Gary?+
Gary originates from Germanic.
Is Gary a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Gary has trended in the US over time.
Gary by gender
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Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press