Barry

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Barry

Gender: Masculine
Language: English, Irish Gaelic
Etymology:
Barry is:
1. The Anglicized form of Bearrach, an Irish Gaelic name meaning “Spear.”
-or-
2. It is from Barra, from the Old Irish name Bairre, short for Fionnbharr (Finbar), and Irish Gaelic name meaning “White Head” from “fion” (white) and “barr” (head).
-or-
3. From a French surname meaning “By the Barrier.”

History:
Barry, originally an Irish name, spread to the rest of the English speaking world in the twentieth century. During the mid 20th century, there was a great deal of interest in giving children Irish Gaelic inspired names. This was the age when Sean, Kelly, Brian, Kerry, Ryan were first popularized. It was also the time when “airy” names were especially common, such as Larry, Terry, Gary, and Jerry.

Barry became especially popular in Australia.

However, under certain situations, the name Barry can also be considered a transferred surname. In this case, it was originally used to honor the Barry surname (either the Irish Barry or the French Barry). For example, a woman named Ann Barry who married a man named John Smith, may name her son John Barry Smith, or merely Barry Smith.

Pronunciation: bear-ee.

Diminutives:
Australian: Bas, Baz, Bazza.

Alternates: Barrie, Berry.
Breton: Barra.
Hawaiian: Pali.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Barry Byrne (1883-1967)
American architect.
Barry Tuckwell (1931-)
Australian conductor.
Barry Flanagan (1941-)
English sculptor.
Barry Hannah (1942-)
American novelist.
Barry Lopez (1945-)
American writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Barry Cunliffe (1939-)
English archeologist.

Miscellaneous:
Barry Saint Leger (1737-1789)
Founder of the Saint Leger horse race.
Barry Diller (1942-)
American entrepreneur.
Barry John (1945-)
English rugby player.
Barry Sanders (1968-)
American football player.

Political Figures:
Barry Goldwater (1909-1998)
American politician.

Scientists:
Barry Commoner (1917-)
American biologist.
Barry N. Taylor (1936-)
American physicist.
Barry Neil Kaufman (1942-)
American psychotherapist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Barry Sullivan (1912-1994)
American actor.

Barry Manilow (Barry Alan Pincus) (1943-)
American singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.134 % of males named Barry

0.015 % surnamed Barry

Popularity of Barry:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1882: N/A
1883: 892nd most popular.
1884: 701st most popular.
1885: 700th most popular.
1886-1888: N/A
1889: 790th most popular.
1890: N/A
1891: 700th most popular.
1892: 861st most popular.
1893: 706th most popular.
1894-1898: N/A
1899: 786th most popular.
1900: 839th most popular.
1901: 943rd most popular.
1902: N/A
1903: 783rd most popular.
1904-1905: N/A
1906: 752nd most popular.
1907-1908: N/A
1909: 801st most popular.
1910: 782nd most popular.
1911-1913: N/A
1914: 984th most popular.
1915-1922: N/A
1923: 920th most popular.
1924: N/A
1925: 794th most popular.
1926: 717th most popular.
1927: 630th most popular.
1928: 507th most popular.
1929: 482nd most popular.
1930: 370th most popular.
1931: 314th most popular.
1932: 236th most popular.
1933: 234th most popular.
1934: 226th most popular.
1935: 183rd most popular.
1936: 185th most popular.
1937: 183rd most popular.
1938: 155th most popular.
1939: 127th most popular.
1940: 109th most popular.
1941: 91st most popular.
1942: 79th most popular.
1943: 82nd most popular.
1944: 84th most popular.
1945: 84th most popular.
1946: 68th most popular.
1947: 67th most popular.
1948: 74th most popular.
1949: 73rd most popular.
1950: 74th most popular.
1951: 71st most popular.
1952: 69th most popular.
1953: 73rd most popular.
1954: 68th most popular.
1955: 70th most popular.
1956: 69th most popular.
1957: 72nd most popular.
1958: 79th most popular.
1959: 73rd most popular.
1960: 72nd most popular.
1961: 66th most popular.
1962: 61st most popular. - Peak!
1963: 67th most popular.
1964: 69th most popular.
1965: 86th most popular.
1966: 87th most popular.
1967: 96th most popular.
1968: 107th most popular.
1969: 99th most popular.
1970: 117th most popular.
1971: 132nd most popular.
1972: 148th most popular.
1973: 159th most popular.
1974: 156th most popular.
1975: 164th most popular.
1976: 165th most popular.
1977: 164th most popular.
1978: 162nd most popular.
1979: 169th most popular.
1980: 175th most popular.
1981: 185th most popular.
1982: 208th most popular.
1983: 225th most popular.
1984: 232nd most popular.
1985: 240th most popular.
1986: 261st most popular.
1987: 277th most popular.
1988: 309th most popular.
1989: 332nd most popular.
1990: 365th most popular.
1991: 407th most popular.
1992: 470th most popular.
1993: 460th most popular.
1994: 511th most popular.
1995: 558th most popular.
1996: 557th most popular.
1997: 581st most popular.
1998: 629th most popular.
1999: 659th most popular.
2000: 684th most popular.
2001: 798th most popular.
2002: 865th most popular.
2003: 881st most popular.
2004: 955th most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Freedman, 1995
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)