Gary Ratliff

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Gary Ratliff — spear carrier
975K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Gary Ratliff is a name that combines French origins. The first name Gary is a masculine given name of French origin. Gary and Garry are English language masculine given names. Gary is likely derived from the Norman French name Geiree, itself descended from the Old Frankish name Geiserich, composed of two elements: "*gaizaz" (spear, pike, javelin) plus "*rīkijaz" (kingly, royal). A variant form of Gary is Garry, the spelling of which has been influenced by that of Barry. An informal pet form of Gary is Gaz, a variant of which is Gazza. A given name associated with Gary and Garry is Garrison; the latter is sometimes borne by sons of men bearing the former names. The surname Ratliff: Alfonso Ratliff (born 1956), American boxer Anthony Ratliff-Williams (born 1997), American football player Arthur M. Ratliff (1924–2007), American teacher, author, and businessman Ben Ratliff (born 1968), American journalist, music critic, and author Bennett Ratliff (born 1961), American politician Bill Ratliff (1936–2025), American politician Bo Ratliff (1933–2024), American singer Brett Ratliff (born 1985), American football player Carlos Ratliff (1910–1961), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach Connor Ratliff, American actor and comedian David Ratliff (1912–1995), Am. Gary is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 975K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Gary reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Gary

Meaning: spear carrier

French

Gary and Garry are English language masculine given names. Gary is likely derived from the Norman French name Geiree, itself descended from the Old Frankish name Geiserich, composed of two elements: "*gaizaz" (spear, pike, javelin) plus "*rīkijaz" (kingly, royal). A variant form of Gary is Garry, the spelling of which has been influenced by that of Barry. An informal pet form of Gary is Gaz, a variant of which is Gazza. A given name associated with Gary and Garry is Garrison; the latter is sometimes borne by sons of men bearing the former names.

Surname: Ratliff

English

Alfonso Ratliff (born 1956), American boxer Anthony Ratliff-Williams (born 1997), American football player Arthur M. Ratliff (1924–2007), American teacher, author, and businessman Ben Ratliff (born 1968), American journalist, music critic, and author Bennett Ratliff (born 1961), American politician Bill Ratliff (1936–2025), American politician Bo Ratliff (1933–2024), American singer Brett Ratliff (born 1985), American football player Carlos Ratliff (1910–1961), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach Connor Ratliff, American actor and comedian David Ratliff (1912–1995), Am.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Gary is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Gary by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Gary Ratliff:

6
Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

11
Soul Urge Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

4
Personality Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Gary?
The first name Gary originates from French. Gary and Garry are English language masculine given names. Gary is likely derived from the Norman French name Geiree, itself descended from the Old Frankish name Geiserich, composed of two elements: "*gaizaz" (spear, pike, javelin) plus "*rīkijaz" (kingly, royal). A variant form of Gary is Garry, the spelling of which has been influenced by that of Barry. An informal pet form of Gary is Gaz, a variant of which is Gazza. A given name associated with Gary and Garry is Garrison; the latter is sometimes borne by sons of men bearing the former names.
When was Gary most popular?
The name Gary reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Ratliff?
The surname Ratliff originates from English. Alfonso Ratliff (born 1956), American boxer Anthony Ratliff-Williams (born 1997), American football player Arthur M. Ratliff (1924–2007), American teacher, author, and businessman Ben Ratliff (born 1968), American journalist, music critic, and author Bennett Ratliff (born 1961), American politician Bill Ratliff (1936–2025), American politician Bo Ratliff (1933–2024), American singer Brett Ratliff (born 1985), American football player Carlos Ratliff (1910–1961), American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach Connor Ratliff, American actor and comedian David Ratliff (1912–1995), Am.
What are the origins of the name Gary Ratliff?
The name Gary Ratliff combines two different traditions: the first name Gary has French roots, while the surname Ratliff originates from English.
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