Barry is a baby name with Gaelic roots and a meaning often connected to “Son of Harry.” For parents comparing baby names, it offers a simple way to balance meaning, sound, and overall feel.
What Does Barry Mean?
A loyal and dependable name with the meaning “Son of Harry”.
The name Barry has Gaelic origins and means “fair-haired” or “spear.” It originated as a surname in Ireland, derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Beargha,” meaning “son of Beargha.” It later transitioned into a popular given name.
Barry has been used as both a first name and a surname for centuries. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century. Famous bearers of the name include Barry Manilow, the American singer-songwriter, and Barry Allen, the alter ego of the superhero character The Flash.
Origin And Style Of Barry
Barry is commonly connected to Gaelic naming traditions.
The meaning linked with Barry is usually given as “Son of Harry.”
When choosing a name like Barry, many parents also compare how it looks on the page, how easy it is to say, and how well it fits with sibling names or family preferences.
Why Parents Consider Barry
Barry can be evaluated by the same practical questions parents use with any baby name: sound, meaning, familiarity, and overall style.
Families who like Barry may also be looking for names that start with B, have a similar tone, or carry a meaning that feels thoughtful and positive.
Names Similar To Barry
If you like Barry, you may also want to explore Bodie, Byron, Burke, Bryon, Bryan.
Top 100 Names Like Barry
Keep the loop going with Top 100 names like Barry and Gaelic Names and Gaelic baby names.
Names Starting With B
Browse more B names such as Bodie, Byron, Burke, Bryon or open the B baby names archive.
Explore More B Names
Looking for similar ideas? Browse more B baby names or return to the full baby names directory to compare more options.
A loyal and dependable name with the meaning “Son of Harry”.
The name Barry has Gaelic origins and means “fair-haired” or “spear.” It originated as a surname in Ireland, derived from the Gaelic name “Ó Beargha,” meaning “son of Beargha.” It later transitioned into a popular given name.
Barry has been used as both a first name and a surname for centuries. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the 19th century. Famous bearers of the name include Barry Manilow, the American singer-songwriter, and Barry Allen, the alter ego of the superhero character The Flash.
The name Barry has a strong and masculine feel to it. It exudes charm and sophistication. It is a timeless name that has stood the test of time and continues to be a favored choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their child.
Profile Confidence
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Popularity
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Meaning
Meaning notes are useful background, but meanings can vary by language, culture, and source.
Origin
Origin and root labels are used as browsing aids, not as a claim that one tradition is the only correct context.
Read the methodologyMeaning and origin guideHow to choose a name
How to use this profile
Look at Barry from more than one angle.
Data signal
Use the Social Security record summary to see whether Barry has a long usage trail, a newer rise, or a rare-name pattern.
Fit signal
Compare the B initial, sound, spelling, and rhythm with surname, sibling names, and family naming patterns.
Reader signal
Save Barry, react to it, or read approved notes so the page becomes more than a static b-name listing.
Sources and limits: public U.S. Social Security baby-name records are used where available. Meaning, origin, style, shortlist, and community notes are treated as decision aids, not as a claim that one name is objectively best.
Shortlist notes
Why parents might save Barry
- Barry is easy to compare with other B names while you build a shortlist.
- The name starts with B, which can help when matching sibling names, initials, or family naming patterns.
- Use the save button to keep this name available while browsing origins, topic lists, and generator ideas.
Community Notes
What readers think about Barry
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