Rory
Say it: ROR-ee
BoyIrishMeans red king4 letters2 syllables
#60
in Ireland (2025)
#62 with spellings combined
93
babies in 2025
#42
best rank (2012)
6,508
babies since 1964
Up 11
10-year rank change
Rory through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93 | #62 |
| 2024 | 86 | #70 |
| 2023 | 87 | #77 |
| 2022 | 68 | #96 |
| 2021 | 90 | #76 |
| 2020 | 92 | #75 |
| 2019 | 99 | #73 |
| 2018 | 93 | #76 |
| 2017 | 101 | #72 |
| 2016 | 97 | #74 |
| 2015 | 108 | #73 |
| 2014 | 124 | #66 |
| 2013 | 126 | #65 |
| 2012 | 200 | #42 |
| 2011 | 159 | #56 |
| 2010 | 155 | #56 |
| 2009 | 172 | #52 |
| 2008 | 172 | #49 |
| 2007 | 169 | #48 |
| 2006 | 170 | #45 |
| 2005 | 114 | #68 |
| 2004 | 156 | #48 |
| 2003 | 130 | #52 |
| 2002 | 116 | #57 |
| 2001 | 112 | #61 |
| 2000 | 89 | #65 |
| 1999 | 90 | #64 |
| 1998 | 100 | #53 |
| 1997 | 99 | #74 |
| 1996 | 82 | #81 |
| 1995 | 78 | #79 |
| 1994 | 76 | #79 |
| 1993 | 85 | #75 |
| 1992 | 83 | #78 |
| 1991 | 91 | #70 |
| 1990 | 101 | #69 |
| 1989 | 85 | #77 |
| 1988 | 79 | #79 |
| 1987 | 96 | #74 |
| 1986 | 104 | #74 |
| 1985 | 110 | #68 |
| 1984 | 117 | #67 |
| 1983 | 106 | #72 |
| 1982 | 155 | #59 |
| 1981 | 124 | #72 |
| 1980 | 115 | #74 |
| 1979 | 117 | #72 |
| 1978 | 125 | #69 |
| 1977 | 130 | #68 |
| 1976 | 103 | #74 |
| 1975 | 102 | #74 |
| 1974 | 79 | #90 |
| 1973 | 92 | #85 |
| 1972 | 94 | #80 |
| 1971 | 88 | #81 |
| 1970 | 68 | #90 |
| 1969 | 78 | #75 |
| 1968 | 65 | #79 |
| 1967 | 58 | #82 |
| 1966 | 56 | #83 |
| 1965 | 43 | #90 |
| 1964 | 56 | #73 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Rory mean?
Red king
English form of Irish Ruairí and Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh, from Old Irish Ruaidrí.
Say it right
RORee
The Irish form Ruairí is said roughly ROOR-ee.
The story of Rory
Rory is the English spelling of the Irish Ruairí and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh. Both go back to the Old Irish name Ruaidrí, usually explained as “red king”, from words for red and king.
The best-known bearer in Irish history is Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, who is remembered as the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion in the twelfth century. In modern times the name belongs to, among others, the guitarist Rory Gallagher and the golfer Rory McIlroy.
Rory has been a steady choice in Ireland right through the CSO records, never far from the top 100. Its best year was 2012, when 200 boys were named Rory and it reached number 42. It is even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was 20th in 2025, its highest place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Rory (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Ruairí (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Rory
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Rory | 93 | 6,508 |
In Northern Ireland
#20 in 2025 with 71 babies. Best rank #20 (2025); 1,712 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.