Karey is an uncommon, yet distinctive given name of English origin. It is a variant spelling of Carey or Carrey, which are derived from the Irish surname Ó Ciardha, meaning 'descendant of Ciarán'. Karey is often associated with the Irish patronymic prefix 'O', suggesting that it may have been used as a male given name at one time. However, today it is predominantly used as a female name in English-speaking countries. The name gained some popularity during the late 20th century but remains relatively uncommon compared to other names. There are no significant historical figures or famous individuals named Karey, allowing those bearing this unique moniker to forge their own paths and create their own legacies.
The name Karey reached its peak popularity between the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a significant increase in births from 44 in 1966 to a high of 119 in 1975. However, it declined thereafter, reaching a low of 5 births in both 2005 and 2015. Over the entire period from 1941 to 2015, there were a total of 2187 births named Karey.