Gary

Gary is an English given name that originated as a short form of Gareth or, more commonly, as a transferred use of the surname Gary, itself derived from a Norman place name or from a Germanic personal name built on the element gar, meaning spear. The name gained widespread popularity in the United States during the early twentieth century, partly through the fame of American film actor Gary Cooper, born Frank James Cooper, who took the name from Gary, Indiana. It enjoyed peak usage in the mid-twentieth century and has since declined in frequency. Related forms include Garry and the feminine variant Gari.