Gary vs Elmer

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Boy #1,169 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"noble and famous"

Origin: Old English

American English

✓ All Clear

Gary Rank #1,133

Elmer Rank #1,169

Gary is more popular, ranked #1133 vs #1169 for Elmer.

Is Gary or Elmer more popular?

Gary is more popular, ranked #1133 compared to Elmer at #1169 in the United States.

What do Gary and Elmer mean?

Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin). Elmer means "noble and famous" (Old English origin).

Are Gary and Elmer boy or girl names?

Gary is primarily a boy name. Elmer is primarily a boy name.