Rory Name Meaning

The name Rory has taken on different meanings in different cultures and languages. In English, Rory means “red king,” while in Spanish it means “famous ruler.” It has also been said to mean “illustrious,” “famous,” and “ruler.”

Origins of the Name Rory

Rory is a name that has been around for centuries, originating from the Gaelic language. The name Rory comes from the Old Irish name “Rórí,” which means “red king.” In Gaelic, “ró” means “red” and “rí” means “king.” This meaning reflects the name’s early association with royalty and bravery.

Popularity of the Name Rory

In recent decades, the name Rory has seen a surge in popularity. In the United States, the name was most popular in the 1990s, reaching its peak in popularity in 1997. The name has since decreased in popularity but remains a popular choice for parents.

Famous Rorys

Rory is a name that has been associated with many famous individuals. Some notable people named Rory include:

  • Rory Gallagher, an Irish blues-rock guitarist
  • Rory Culkin, an American actor
  • Rory McIlroy, a Northern Irish professional golfer
  • Rory Bremner, a Scottish impressionist and comedian
    In Pop Culture

The name Rory has also been popular in pop culture, appearing in various TV shows, movies, and books. One of the most well-known characters named Rory is Rory Gilmore from the popular TV show “Gilmore Girls.” This character, portrayed by Alexis Bledel, was known for her intelligence, quirkiness, and love of books.

Another popular character named Rory is Rory Williams from the British TV show “Doctor Who.” This character, portrayed by Arthur Darvill, was known for his bravery and adventurous spirit.

Final Thoughts on the Name Rory

The name Rory is a timeless classic with a touch of sass. It has roots in Gaelic language and culture, reflecting its association with royalty and bravery. The name has seen a surge in popularity in recent decades and remains a popular choice for parents. Whether it’s the famous people named Rory, the popular characters in pop culture, or the name’s various meanings, Rory is a name that is sure to make a statement.

Infographic of Rory name meaning, which is A variant of Ruaidhri, Rory is an Irish name meaning red king.
Ask your friends & family about Rory…

Rory Name Popularity

How popular is the name Rory? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 5 0.0004%
1945 — 5 0.0004%
1946 — 21 0.0014%
1947 — 34 0.002%
1948 — 70 0.0044%
1949 — 87 0.0054%
1950 — 113 0.007%
1951 — 89 0.0052%
1952 — 111 0.0064%
1953 — 167 0.0094%
1954 — 224 0.0123%
1955 — 315 0.0171%
1956 — 459 0.0243%
1957 — 421 0.0219%
1958 — 446 0.0236%
1959 — 786 0.0414%
1960 — 613 0.0324%
1961 — 450 0.0238%
1962 — 457 0.0249%
1963 — 342 0.0191%
1964 — 314 0.0178%
1965 — 301 0.0184%
1966 — 205 0.0131%
1967 — 148 0.0098%
1968 — 119 0.0079%
1969 — 306 0.0199%
1970 — 224 0.0141%
1971 — 142 0.0094%
1972 — 118 0.0087%
1973 — 55 0.0042%
1974 — 116 0.0089%
1975 — 104 0.0081%
1976 — 187 0.0145%
1977 — 486 0.0361%
1978 — 363 0.027%
1979 — 291 0.0206%
1980 — 296 0.0202%
1981 — 371 0.0252%
1982 — 702 0.047%
1983 — 497 0.0337%
1984 — 502 0.0337%
1985 — 449 0.0296%
1986 — 404 0.0268%
1987 — 321 0.021%
1988 — 348 0.0223%
1989 — 342 0.0212%
1990 — 328 0.0198%
1991 — 287 0.0176%
1992 — 208 0.013%
1993 — 179 0.0115%
1994 — 173 0.0113%
1995 — 165 0.0109%
1996 — 182 0.0122%
1997 — 181 0.0122%
1998 — 262 0.0175%
1999 — 237 0.0158%
2000 — 233 0.0153%
2001 — 183 0.0121%
2002 — 200 0.0133%
2003 — 267 0.0176%
2004 — 214 0.014%
2005 — 219 0.0143%
2006 — 172 0.011%
2007 — 220 0.0139%
2008 — 221 0.0143%
2009 — 245 0.0164%
2010 — 249 0.0173%
2011 — 350 0.0246%
2012 — 522 0.0366%
2013 — 579 0.0407%
2014 — 719 0.0493%
2015 — 831 0.0571%
2016 — 793 0.055%
2017 — 828 0.0593%
2018 — 859 0.0625%
2019 — 892 0.0659%
2020 — 927 0.0728%
2021 — 1,106 0.0905%
2022 — 1,207 0.0915%
2023 — 1,423 0.1099%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Rory

If you like Rory, you’ll love these other names like Rory.

What names are variants of Rory?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Rory.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Rhory

Red king

Irish

Rorey

Red king

Irish

Rorik

Red king

Irish

Rorric

Red king

Irish

Rorry

Red king

Irish

What names sound like Rory?

If you like how Rory sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Rory.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Royer

Red

Irish

Lists With Rory

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Rory.

Siblings of Rory

Mamas with kids named Rory also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Silas

Man of the forest

Latin

Cole

Charcoal

English

8 Comments

  1. I wanted to the name my son Rory because I love it. Apparently, though, I have an accent because whenever I said it people told me I was pronouncing it wrong. So I gave up. I still think it’s the best name.

    Reply

    • Some people can’t pronounce my name because of the two Rs being so close together separated by the vowel. They drop the 1st R and replace it with a W. I’ve been called Wory a million times in my life!

      Reply

  2. The perfect gender neutral name!

    Reply

  3. I couldn’t think of any boy names that stuck out to me. Me & my family tried, & tried finding cute, unusual names but nothing really stuck out to me. We seen the name Rory online & through out my pregnancy it kept coming back up. Once my baby was born, i knew he was ment to be Rory!

    Reply

  4. We love the name Rory. It’s unique without being too new or made up. Our Rory is named after his great Uncle Desmond who was a wonderful man. Desmond was born Rory, but changes his name to Desmond at 10 years old when his friend Desmond dies of Polio, but he wanted his memory to live on. That’s just the kind of amazing human he was.

    Reply

  5. We wanted to honor our two fathers so we needed and R name and a J name. We also wanted a name that complemented our oldest sons name Brayden. Both have an Irish heritage so Rory Jace it was!

    Reply

  6. Named after his papa Rory who passed away just before he was born.

    Reply

  7. He was named after his Cheii who passed away right before he was born.
    His full name is Rory Akela-Grey Benally
    Akela for the wolf from the jungle book. (We love to name our kids after books. And Grey, after his brother.

    Reply

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