Kerry or Kerri is both a masculine and feminine English language given name of Gaelic (Irish) origin.
In its original form Ciarraighe (Ciarraí), it denoted the kingdom of Ciar (ciar raighe), Ciar being the son of Fergus mac Róich, who gave his name to County Kerry. Ciarraighe was thus the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in the area of what is now County Kerry. However, branches of the Ciarraighe were all over Ireland:
Ciarraige Luachra - in what is now north County Kerry and Sliabh Luachra, both named after them.
Ciarraige Cuirche - due south of what is now Cork City, in Munster.
Ciarraige Áei - on the plains of central County Roscommon, in Connacht.
Ciarraighe Locha na nÁirne - in eastern County Mayo in Connacht.
Ciarraige Airtech - on Magh nAirtig (plain of Airtig, northwest County Roscommon, parish of Tibohine.
Ciarraige Broengair - location uncertain. The Múscraige Breogain were found south-west of Cashel, Munster.
Ciarraige Choinnend - location uncertain.
Ciarraige Trimaige - location uncertain.
Ciarraige Aidhne - in Aidhne, now south County Galway, Connacht.
Notable people with the name
Acting, presenting, and radio
Kerry Bishé, actress
Kerry Fox (born 1966), New Zealand actress
Kerry Godliman, English actress and comedian
Kerri Green, American actress
Kerri Kasem, an American radio and television host
Kerri Kendall, an American model and actress
Kerri-Anne Kennerley, an Australian television presenter
Kerri Kenney-Silver, an American comedian, actress, singer and writer
Kerry LaiFatt, Canadian actress
Kerry Rossall, American stuntman and actor
Kerry Shale, Canadian actor, voice artist and writer
Kerry Washington, American actress
Politics
Kerry J. Donley (1956-2022), American politician
Kerry Healey (born 1960), American politician, former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Kerry Underwood, member of the Alabama House of Representatives
Music
Kerry Alexander, lead singer of the Minnesota-based band Bad Bad Hats
Kerri Chandler, producer of house music
Kerry Ellis, an English singer and stage actress
Kerry Katona, pop singer
Kerry King, guitarist for thrash metal band Slayer
Kerry Livgren, a founding member of the progressive rock band Kansas
Kerry Marx, American guitarist and Music Director of the Grand Ole Opry
Kerry McGregor (1974–2012), Scottish singer-songwriter and actress
Sport
Kerry Blackshear Jr. (born 1997), American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Kerry Brown (wrestler), Canadian professional wrestler
Kerri Buchberger, Canadian volleyball player
Kerry Carpenter, American baseball player
Kerry Collins, American football player
Kerri Gallagher (born 1989), American middle-distance runner
Kerry Joyce, South African gymnast, All-Africa champion
Kerry Kittles, American basketball player
Kerry Ligtenberg, American baseball player
Kerry O'Brien (athlete), Australian middle-distance runner
Kerri Pottharst, Australian beach volleyball player
Kerry Reid, Australian tennis player
Kerri Strug, American gymnast
Kerry Von Erich, American professional wrestler
Kerri Walsh, American beach volleyball player
Kerry Wood, American baseball player
Other fields
Kerry Gammill, American comic book artist
Kerri Greenidge, American historian and academic
Kerri Hoskins, former glamour model
Kerrie Hughes, New Zealand fashion designer
Kerry G. Johnson, graphic designer, caricature artist
Kerry Joyce, American interior designer and product designer
Kerry McCluggage, owner and president of Craftsman Films
Kerry Mitchell, American artist
Kerry Packer, Australian media magnate
Kerri Sakamoto, Canadian novelist
Surname
Alexandra Kerry, Alexandra Forbes Kerry (born September 5, 1973) is an American filmmaker
Cameron Kerry, Cameron Forbes Kerry (born September 6, 1950), son of Richard John Kerry, American politician
Charles Kerry, Charles Henry Kerry (3 April 1857 – 26 May 1928), photographer
John Kerry, John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943), United States politician and 2004 presidential candidate, son of Richard John Kerry
Matilda Kerry, Nigerian physician
Richard John Kerry, (July 28, 1915 – July 29, 2000), American Foreign Service officer and lawyer, son of Frederick A. "Fred" Kerry (born Fritz Kohn, 1873– 1921)
Rosemary Forbes Kerry, one of 11 children of James Grant Forbes of the Protestant Forbes family of China and Boston, wife of Richard John Kerry
Vanessa Kerry, Vanessa Bradford Kerry (born December 31, 1976), American physician and health care administrator