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Rourke

♂ Boy

Pronounced RORK /ˈrɔrk/High

Meaning: From the Irish O Ruairc, 'a descendant of Ruarc (the famous ruler/champion)'Low

In 30 seconds: A famous ruler; a champion: Rourke is Irish. Crisp, classic, and warm.

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Origin LowIrish

MeaningFrom the Irish O Ruairc, 'a descendant of Ruarc (the famous ruler/champion)'

U.S. rank (2024)#8799 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 345

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

Rourke comes from the Irish O Ruairc, 'a descendant of Ruarc (the famous ruler/champion)'. A crisp, classic name (said 'RORK').

In the U.S. it appears as an Irish surname-name. Rare, a-famous-ruler at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Rourke comes from the Irish O Ruairc, 'a descendant of Ruarc (the famous ruler/champion)' — a crisp, classic surname-name (said 'RORK').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Rourke — Irish etymology

Variations

RoarkeRoarkO'Rourke

Nicknames

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If you like Rourke…

Roarke— a kin spelling

Roark— a fellow spelling

Burke— a sound-neighbor -urke Irish surname name

Clarke— a companion -arke surname name

Explore names like Rourke

By themesurname-name irish

By meaningRoyal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rourke mean?

Rourke is Irish for 'a descendant of Ruarc (the famous ruler/champion)'.

How do you pronounce Rourke?

It's said RORK /ˈrɔrk/ — one syllable.

Is Rourke a boy or girl name?

Rourke is a boy's name.

How popular is Rourke?

Rourke is a very rare name in the U.S.