Kerrey is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word 'Ceara,' which means 'spear.' It is predominantly a male given name, though rare, and is believed to have been brought to England by Norsemen during the Viking Age. The name's popularity peaked in the United States during the mid-20th century but has since become less common.
The name Kerrey was relatively uncommon during these years, with only 11 babies named Kerrey between 1972 and 1978. There were peaks in popularity in 1972 (5 births) and 1978 (6 births).