Rory
Rory was the 199th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,768 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 180 places. More babies were named Rory in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning red king · Irish, Scottish Gaelic
Say it ROR-ee /ˈrɔri/
- Rank in 2025
- #199 boys, up 131 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,768boys
- Girls and boys
- 42% girls, 58% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,768 babies
- Total since 1880
- 49,421babies recorded
What does the name Rory mean?
Rory is the English form of Irish Ruairí and Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh, from Old Irish Ruaidrí, made of ruad, 'red', and rí, 'king'; Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree. Wikipedia notes that in Ireland and Scotland Rory is generally a boy's name, while elsewhere it is used for girls too. Wiktionary notes it has also served as a pet form of Roderick, and the Irish and Scottish spellings Ruairí and Ruairidh are still used.
ruad (Old Irish, “red”)rí (Old Irish, “king”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Ruairí, Ruaridh, Roderick, Rorie.
See also: Irish names, names that mean king or queen, names that mean a color.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Rory', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Rory', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Rory popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #230 | #199 | 1,332 | 1,768 |
| 2020 | #458 | #330 | 675 | 997 |
| 2010 | #1,023 | #748 | 245 | 304 |
| 2000 | #1,979 | #631 | 85 | 290 |
| 1990 | #3,496 | #512 | 31 | 374 |
| 1980 | #3,117 | #439 | 28 | 355 |
| 1970 | #1,776 | #483 | 51 | 281 |
| 1960 | #4,116 | #311 | 11 | 638 |
| 1950 | #1,448 | #534 | 41 | 163 |
| 1940 | — | #3,087 | — | 7 |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Rory, counting every spelling?
Rory is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #217 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #199 for Rory on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,779 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rory | 1,768 | #199 | 7,175 |
| Rorey | 11 | #7,574 | 33 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Rory?
1,768 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Rory (0.49 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Rory born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 5 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Rory.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Rory?
About 32,900 people born in the US named Rory are alive today, with a median age of 22; half are between 7 and 46. That makes Rory mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Rory by state
How common Rory was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Rhode Island (3.8×), Massachusetts (3.5×), New Hampshire (3.3×), Maine (3.0×), District of Columbia (3.0×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in West Virginia, Hawaii, Mississippi.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Rory: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Rory, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Rory · Sibling names for Rory
Rory is also a nickname for Aurora.
Questions about the name Rory
What does Rory mean?
Rory means “red king” (Irish, Scottish Gaelic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Rory?
Rory was the 199th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,768 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 180 places. More babies were named Rory in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Rory a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 42% girls, 58% boys given the name Rory in the US.
Where is Rory most popular?
In 2021–2025, Rory was most common in Rhode Island (3.19 per 1,000 boys), followed by Massachusetts and New Hampshire.