The given name Kary is a feminine name that originated from the Ancient Greek word "karyon," meaning "nut" or "kernel." It is believed to have been derived from the Greek word "karuon," which referred to the walnut tree. This name was first recorded in the ancient Greek texts dating back to the 5th century BCE.

During the Byzantine period, the name Kary gained popularity as a variant of the name Karyofilli, which means "carnation flower." It was often used as a nickname or a diminutive form of longer names like Karyofilia or Karytsi. In the 12th century, the name appeared in the writings of the Byzantine historian Anna Komnene, who mentioned a woman named Kary in her historical works.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kary can be found in the 14th century, when a woman named Kary Palaiologina was mentioned in the records of the Palaiologos dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1261 to 1453. This suggests that the name was used among the aristocratic circles of the time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kary. One of the earliest examples is Kary Mustafa Pasha (1637-1683), an Ottoman grand vizier and military commander who led the Ottoman forces during the Siege of Vienna in 1683. Another notable figure is Kary Mullis (1944-2019), an American biochemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.

In the field of literature, Kary Kwok (born 1954) is a Chinese-American poet and author known for her works exploring themes of identity, culture, and language. Kary B. Mullis (1963-2005) was an American singer-songwriter and musician who gained recognition for her folk-rock compositions and collaborations with artists like Suzanne Vega.

Lastly, Kary Antholis (born 1961) is an American journalist and author who has worked for various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and HBO. She has written extensively on topics related to politics, culture, and international affairs.