Carey is an English unisex given name derived from the Irish surname Carey, which is the Anglicized form of Ó Ciardha, a patronymic meaning "descendant of Ciardha." The root name Ciardha comes from the Irish element ciar, meaning "black" or "dark." This name originally functioned as a descriptive byname for someone with dark hair or complexion. Unlike its parent form Ciardha, which never entered common usage as a given name, Carey has been used in English-speaking countries as both a masculine and feminine first name since the 20th century. Origin and Meaning The name traces back to Ciardha, a medieval Irish personal name derived from the adjective ciar ("black"). The Ó Ciardha clan was a prominent family in Gaelic Ireland, particularly in what is now County Westmeath and adjacent counties. As a surname, Carey spread through English colonization and Anglicization, with families adopting the simplified spelling. The transition from surname to given name followed a pattern common in English naming, where family names became fashionable first names, particularly in the United States from the 19th century onwards. Fictional Bearers In popular culture, Carey appears most notably in the Disney Channel franchise The Suite Life. Carey Martin (played by Kim Rhodes) is the long-suffering mother of twin brothers Zack and Cody on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and later The Suite Life on Deck. The character helped popularize the name in 2000s media culture. Beyond the Surname Carey can also be traced as a variant of the Cornish surname derived from kerri ("fort"), though the Irish etymological link predominates. Modern usage is nearly equal across genders, with spelling variants including Kary, Karey, and Carrie (more strictly feminine). Notable real-life bearers include musicians (Carey, from the UK rapper and comedian in The Big Narstie Show), though no universally famous bearers are documented in encyclopedic sources. Meaning: "Descendant of the dark one" Origin: Irish surname adapted from Ó Ciardha Type: Unisex given name Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially United States and United Kingdom