The baby name Leary is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced LEER-ee (IPA: /ˈlɪəri/).
Leary is Irish in Origin.
The baby name Leary is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced LEER-ee (IPA: /ˈlɪəri/).
Leary is Irish in Origin.
Leary is an Irish name used as both surname and given name, anglicized from the Gaelic Ó Laoghaire and the earlier personal name Lóegaire/Laoghaire. Its etymology traces to Old Irish lóeg “calf, fawn” and aire “keeper, guardian,” yielding the traditional meaning “calf-herd” or “keeper of the calves.” While traditionally masculine, it sees occasional modern given-name use, often chosen to honor a family surname.
The name is tied to early Irish history through Lóegaire mac Néill, a 5th‑century High King associated with legends of St. Patrick, and it survives in place names such as Dún Laoghaire. As a surname, O’Leary is especially prominent in Munster (notably County Cork). Variants and related forms include Laoghaire and Lóegaire (Gaelic/Old Irish), Ó Laoghaire (Gaelic surname), and O’Leary (anglicized surname), with Leary the common English given-name form.
Leary is seldom given. In all, it turns up just 34 times, across 13 countries.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JM | 0 | #90 | 4 | 3,714 | |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #253 | 1 | 6,830 |
| NG | 0 | #271 | 2 | 5,926 | |
| JM | Boys | 0 | #288 | 6 | 6,876 |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #331 | 1 | 9,639 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #408 | 1 | 11,440 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #625 | 1 | 10,983 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #649 | 2 | 16,104 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #700 | 1 | 13,390 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #981 | 1 | 15,656 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #1,000 | 2 | 16,906 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,014 | 1 | 25,931 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,152 | 1 | 16,140 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,178 | 5 | 25,439 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
Leary is popular in 13 countries — most recent births per country:
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