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Carey

Girl name · 19 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Carey: 19 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1979.

Carey began as a surname from the Irish Ó Ciaráin, meaning “descendant of Ciarán” – the personal name Ciarán itself comes from the Gaelic ciar (“dark”) with a diminutive suffix, giving “little dark one.” A second root comes from the Welsh caer, meaning “fort.” The name gained popularity as a given name partly through the Hollywood golden age, though the spelling Cary belongs to a different actor; today, notable bearers include Oscar-nominated actress Carey Mulligan and legendary ice hockey goaltender Carey Price. Few places carry the name directly, but the root Ciar