Larrey
A French masculine given name of uncertain meaning, perhaps derived from Laurent.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Larrey. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Larrey today is around 74 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Larrey births was 1953 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Larrey. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Larrey is about 74 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Larreys were born before 1962.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Larrey. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1953
7 babies that year
Average age
74
years old
1953 SSA rank
#3,281
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Larrey: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Larrey by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Larrey during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Larrey
The name Larrey is believed to have its origins in the Basque language, which is spoken in parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is thought to be derived from the Basque word "larri," which means "danger" or "peril."
In the early medieval period, the name Larrey was primarily found in the Basque regions of Spain and France. Some scholars believe that it may have been a surname or a descriptive name given to individuals who worked in dangerous professions, such as soldiers or guards.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Larrey can be found in the 12th century, in the writings of a Basque chronicler named Juan de Garibay y Zamalloa. He mentioned a nobleman named Larrey who was involved in the conflict between the Kingdom of Navarre and the Crown of Aragon.
During the Renaissance period, the name Larrey gained some prominence in France, particularly in the regions bordering the Basque Country. In the 16th century, a French surgeon named Dominique Larrey (1766-1842) gained fame for his innovations in battlefield medicine during the Napoleonic Wars. He is credited with developing the concept of ambulances and field hospitals, which saved countless lives.
Another notable individual with the name Larrey was the French artist and printmaker, Jacques-Philippe Larrey (1828-1905). He was known for his etchings and illustrations, particularly those depicting scenes from French history and literature.
In the 19th century, a French general named François Larrey (1807-1884) served in the French Army and participated in various military campaigns, including the Crimean War and the Franco-Prussian War.
Another figure of note was the French philosopher and writer, Claude Larrey (1867-1945), who wrote extensively on topics such as metaphysics, ethics, and the philosophy of science.
One of the more recent individuals with the name Larrey was the French novelist and screenwriter, Claude Larrey (1923-2016), who was known for his works exploring themes of love, identity, and the human condition.
It is worth noting that while the name Larrey has its roots in the Basque language and culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, particularly in French-speaking regions and countries with historical ties to France.
People
Larrey + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Larrey as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Larrey: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Larrey?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Larrey going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Larrey a common name?
We classify Larrey as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Larrey most popular?
The single biggest year for Larrey was 1953, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Larrey is about 74 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Larrey in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Larrey a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Larrey in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Larrey still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Larrey in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Larrey can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Larrey?
Find out how many people share the name Larrey on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.