Named after US Steel found Elbert Gary, back when "Gary" was almost exclusively a surname. Later, a burgeoning young actor named Frank Cooper needed to change h

Named after US Steel found Elbert Gary, back when "Gary" was almost exclusively a surname. Later, a burgeoning young actor named Frank Cooper needed to change his professional name to avoid a conflict with other Frank Coopers in the industry, and his agent suggested the name of her hometown, to give him some blue collar cred. "Gary Cooper" became a household name and people have been naming their children "Gary" ever since.