Kerrey as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kerrey

What is the meaning of the name Kerrey ?

The baby name Kerrey is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkɛri/ (KER-ee).

Kerrey is Irish in Origin.

Kerrey is a modern English respelling of Kerry, a unisex given name and surname tied to County Kerry in Ireland. The place-name comes from Irish Ciarraí, “the people/territory of Ciar,” with Ciar being an early medieval personal name meaning “dark” or “dusky,” likely referencing hair or complexion. As a given name, Kerrey/Kerry thus carries senses of “from County Kerry” and, more loosely, “of the dark-haired people.”

Use as a first name spread across the English-speaking world in the mid-20th century, peaking in the 1970s–80s - especially for girls in Britain, Australia, and the United States, while remaining genuinely unisex in Ireland. The double-r, -ey form Kerrey is rare and often influenced by surname spellings (cf. U.S. senator Bob Kerrey) or by parents seeking distinction. Variants include Kerry (standard), Kerri, Kerrie, Keri, and compounds like Kerry-Ann; nicknames include Kez and Kezza.

⚙ Kerrey is about as rare as a name gets. We count just 2 recorded uses of it worldwide, from 2 countries.