Larry is a masculine given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "Lafric," which means "from the lawn" or "from the meadow." The name was initially used as a surname, but it has since evolved into a popular given name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Larry as a given name dates back to the 17th century. However, it did not become widely popular until the mid-20th century. During this time, it became particularly popular in the United States, where it peaked in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Larry. Some of these include American basketball player Larry Bird, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan's fictional alter ego in film Larry "The King of Comedy" Grossman, and British singer-songwriter Larry Page, who is best known for his work with the rock band The Cure.
Today, Larry remains a popular given name throughout much of the English-speaking world. It has also been used as a given name in other languages, such as Spanish (where it is spelled "Larry") and French (where it is spelled "Laurie"). Despite its origins as a name meaning "from the meadow," Larry is not typically associated with nature or rural living. Instead, it is often viewed as a strong, masculine name that carries a sense of authority and confidence.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Larry in the United States from 1880 to 2023, we can observe several trends over time.
From 1880 to around 1946, the number of births with the name Larry fluctuated but showed an overall increasing trend. The number of births peaked in 1947 with a total of 34,946 newborns named Larry. This could be attributed to the post-World War II baby boom.
However, after reaching its peak in 1947, the popularity of the name Larry began to decline steadily. Between 1950 and 2023, the number of births with the name Larry decreased significantly, from a high of 31,479 births in 1950 to just 216 births in 2023.
Despite this decline in popularity, the name Larry has remained relatively stable in recent years. Since 2018, the number of births with the name Larry has hovered around 300 births per year, indicating that while it may not be as popular as it once was, the name Larry is still used by some parents.
In total, from 1880 to 2023, there were approximately 807,150 newborns named Larry in the United States. This statistic provides insight into the changing trends of baby naming over time and demonstrates how the popularity of a name can fluctuate dramatically.