unisex name
Rory
ROR-ee
- Origin Irish
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 93,055
the United States
#199
2025 births
Rory is a name of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin meaning "red king." It anglicizes Ruaidhrí, from ruadh, red or red-haired, and rí, king, and is used for both boys and girls.
- Rory is a name of Irish origin.
- Peaked in US records in 2025, when 3,100 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 295 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1933.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Rory over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1930s to 2020s. Rory is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1940s | 591 |
| 1950s | 3,844 |
| 1960s | 3,922 |
| 1970s | 3,010 |
| 1980s | 5,083 |
| 1990s | 3,083 |
| 2000s | 4,822 |
| 2010s | 11,016 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 14,040 |
What Rory means
Rory means red king. The first element specifically means the red of hair or a fox rather than red in general, so the sense is closer to the red-haired king.
Where Rory comes from
Rory anglicizes the Irish Ruaidhrí and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh, from the Old Irish ruad, red, and rí, king. It was a name of real standing: Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, who died in 1198, was the last High King of Ireland. Because English clerks could not readily handle the spelling, Ruaidhrí was often recorded as Roderick, an unrelated Germanic name meaning famous power, and the two have been treated as equivalents in official records ever since — a substitution rather than a translation. Rory is also a Scottish clan name, associated particularly with the MacLeods and MacDonalds.
Rory in use
Our records show Rory in use for both sexes, but the balance differs sharply by country. In England and Wales it is a boys' name at 17, with only 25 girls recorded; in the United States it sits at 199 for boys and 230 for girls, a near-even split that owes a great deal to Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. It peaked in 2025 and is still rising.
How popular is Rory?
In 2025, Rory was given to 1,785 babies in England and Wales, ranking #17 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Rory is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Rory
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Rory also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Rory over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Rory
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Rory in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Rory
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Rory — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Rory
What does the name Rory mean?
Rory means "red king," from the Irish ruadh, red-haired, and rí, king.
Is Rory short for Roderick?
No, though records often treat them as equivalent. Ruaidhrí was substituted with the unrelated Germanic Roderick by English clerks who could not spell it.
Is Rory a boy's or girl's name?
Historically male, and still overwhelmingly so in Britain. Its American use for girls is close to even and owes a great deal to Gilmore Girls.
How popular is the name Rory?
In 2025, Rory was given to 1,785 babies in England and Wales, ranking #17 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
How many syllables are in Rory?
Rory has 2 syllables.
When was Rory most popular?
Rory peaked in 2025, when 3,100 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Rory?
Rory is usually shortened to Ro.
Is Rory a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Rory currently ranks #3 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.