The nameRory

Rory is a boy's name of Irish origin meaning "red king". It is in the top 20 in England and Wales.

Meaning

Rory comes from the Irish Ruaidhrí, made of ruadh, "red", and rí, "king": "red king".

Origin

Irish and Scottish. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was the last High King of Ireland, in the 12th century.

History

Rory spread from Ireland and Scotland to the rest of Britain. It reached the top 20 in England and Wales in recent years. The golfer Rory McIlroy is a famous bearer.

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Famous people named Rory

Popularity of the name Rory

Rory in the United States

226thmost popular boys' name in the United States in 2024
2024peak year (2,696 births)
46,310babies named Rory in the United States since 1880
01,3482,696 18801900192019401960198020002020
Births per year in the United States. Source: Social Security Administration, names given at least 5 times a year.

Rory was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 11,014 births over the decade, 24% of all recorded babies named Rory. Its rise began around 1954, and it peaked in 2024. Half of all babies named Rory in the United States were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 2,186 births a year on average, against 1,396 in the five years before.

Rory in the United Kingdom

17thmost popular boys' name in the United Kingdom in 2025
2025peak year (2,162 births)
30,523babies named Rory in the United Kingdom since 1997
01,0812,162 200020052010201520202025
Births per year in the United Kingdom. Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), names given at least 3 times a year.

Rory was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 11,595 births over the decade, 38% of all recorded babies named Rory. Half of all babies named Rory in the United Kingdom were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 1,895 births a year on average, against 1,528 in the five years before.

Rory in Ireland

62ndmost popular boys' name in Ireland in 2025
2012peak year (200 births)
6,508babies named Rory in Ireland since 1964
0100200 198020002020
Births per year in Ireland. Source: Central Statistics Office, names given at least 3 times a year.

Sibling names for Rory

Names from the same generation as Rory, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.

For a sister

For a brother

How many people are named Rory? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz

Compare Rory with another name

Meaning, origin and popularity of Rory side by side with the name of your choice.

Rory in our baby name lists

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Rory mean?

Rory comes from the Irish Ruaidhrí, made of ruadh, "red", and rí, "king": "red king".

What is the origin of the name Rory?

Irish and Scottish. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was the last High King of Ireland, in the 12th century.

Is Rory a girl's or a boy's name?

Rory is a boy's name. In the United States, 26% of the babies named Rory are girls.

How popular is the name Rory?

In 2024, Rory was the 226th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,594 births.

What are good sibling names for Rory?

Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Catalina, Ivy, Iris and Elsie for a sister, Leon, Sullivan, Arthur and Ronan for a brother.

Who are famous people named Rory?

Rory McIlroy, golfer; Rory Gilmore, Gilmore Girls character; Rory Kinnear, actor; Rory Stewart, politician and writer.