Rory

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROR-ee /ˈrɔːr.i/High

Meaning: Red king; from Irish Gaelic Ruaidhri (ruadh: red + ri: king)High

In 30 seconds: An Irish Gaelic name meaning 'red king,' from ruadh (red) and rí (king). A classic Irish name borne by the last High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, and by the Gilmore Girls' Rory, who gave it a new following for girls.

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Origin HighIrish, Scottish

MeaningRed king; from Irish Gaelic Ruaidhri (ruadh: red + ri: king)

U.S. rank (2025)#199 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births1,768 boys (0.10% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 35,835

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rory anglicizes the Irish Gaelic name Ruaidhri (also Ruarí), from ruadh (red, russet) and rí (king). It was a royal Irish name — borne by multiple Irish kings — and has been used in Ireland and Scotland for over a millennium.

Rory has been a popular boys' name in Ireland and increasingly in the U.S. It ranked #226 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Roderic O'Connor (Ruaidhri Ua Conchobair, c.1116–1198) was the last High King of Ireland — his Anglicized name gives Rory a direct royal Irish ancestry, and his story ends with the Anglo-Norman conquest that changed Ireland forever.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Rory — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RuairiRuarí

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Roderic O'Connor (Ruaidhri) (1116–1198)
Last High King of Ireland before the Anglo-Norman invasion. His name Ruaidhri is anglicized as Rory.

If you like Rory…

Declan— Irish Gaelic name with the same breezy two-syllable Irish feel

Finn— short Irish name with the same Celtic heritage and modern appeal

Callum— Scottish Gaelic name in the same Celtic naming tradition

Liam— the most popular Irish name with the same easy rhythmic quality

Cormac— Irish Gaelic royal name in the same tradition of Irish kings

Explore names like Rory

By themeunisex two-syllable irish gaelic royal red

By meaningRoyal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rory mean?

Rory means 'red king,' from Irish Gaelic Ruaidhri (ruadh: red + ri: king). It was borne by multiple Irish kings, including the last High King.

How do you pronounce Rory?

It's said ROR-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rory a boy or girl name?

Rory is primarily a boys' name but is used for both sexes.

How popular is Rory?

Rory ranked #226 for U.S. boys in 2024.