Rory

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROR-ee /ˈrɔːr.i/High

Meaning: Red king; famous king; from Irish/Scottish Gaelic Ruairí or Ruadhrí: ruadh (red, russet) + rí (king)High

In 30 seconds: A spirited Irish and Scottish Gaelic name meaning 'red king.' Borne by legendary Irish and Scottish kings, Rory has a heroic, breezy character that works as easily for girls as it does for boys.

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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic

MeaningRed king; famous king; from Irish/Scottish Gaelic Ruairí or Ruadhrí: ruadh (red, russet) + rí (king)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 25,834

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Rory derives from the Old Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ruairí (Old Irish: Ruadhrí), composed of ruadh ('red, russet-haired') and rí ('king'). Several Irish and Scottish kings bore this name, including Ruairí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), the last High King of Ireland (d. 1198).

Rory has been used in Ireland and Scotland for centuries and entered wider English-speaking use in the 20th century. In the United States it has been rising for both boys and girls since the 2000s. The character Rory Gilmore in the TV series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) boosted female usage, but it remains listed here under its traditional male usage.

Did you know? Ruarí Mór Mac Domhnaill — anglicized as Rory More MacDonald — was the celebrated 16th-century Scottish lord who served as a patron of Gaelic culture; Rory has been a hero's name in the Celtic world for over a thousand years.

Variations

RuariRuairiRuaraidh

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Rory O'Connor (Ruairí Ua Conchobair) (c. 1116–1198)
Last High King of Ireland, whose name is the most famous historical bearing of Rory.

If you like Rory…

Finn— Irish Gaelic name with the same breezy Celtic heroic quality

Declan— Irish saint's name with the same two-syllable Celtic structure

Rowan— Celtic nature name with the same gender-neutral modern appeal

Callum— Scottish Gaelic name with the same crisp Celtic character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rory mean?

Rory means 'red king,' from Irish/Scottish Gaelic ruadh (red) and rí (king).

How do you pronounce Rory?

Rory is pronounced ROR-ee (/ˈrɔːr.i/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Rory a boy or girl name?

Rory is used for both boys and girls. This entry is for the male usage; it has been crossing over to girls in the U.S.

How popular is Rory?

Rory has been rising for both sexes in the U.S. since the 2000s and is now in the top 300 for boys.