Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Rory
UnisexIrish, Scottish· “red king”
- Meaning
- red king
- Origin
- Irish, Scottish
- Pronunciation
- ROR-ee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #199
- US babies 2025
- 1,768
- Best rank
- #199 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Rory
Rory is an Irish and Scottish name that means “red king”.
Rory is an English form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic Ruaidhrí, built from ruadh, meaning "red," and rí, meaning "king." It was a royal name in medieval Ireland, borne by Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland, and it was common among Scottish clan chiefs. Rory has long been used for boys in Ireland and Scotland and is now used for girls as well, sometimes as a short form of Aurora. It has a cheerful, spirited sound with a strong Celtic heritage. The name is simple to spell, easy to say and friendly at every age.
Other spellings with the same sound: Rorie.
Popularity over time
Rory first appears in US Social Security records in 1933. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 79 different years, starting in 1947. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #199, and its highest count, 1,768 babies. Use has grown 107% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #534 in 1950, #439 in 1980, #631 in 2000, #748 in 2010, and #199 in 2025. Of the 35,841 US boys named Rory since records began, 23% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 6,990 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Sutton, Tatum, Oakley, Milan, and Dallas.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rory ranked highest in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #58 | 106 |
| Connecticut | #99 | 37 |
| New Hampshire | #109 | 14 |
| Wisconsin | #113 | 54 |
| Maine | #115 | 12 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Rory is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 40% of US babies named Rory were girls and 60% were boys.
Rory is usually pronounced ROR-ee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with R and ends in “-ry”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Rorie.
Middle names for Rory
A few middle names that flow with Rory: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rory
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Lists that include Rory
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rory mean?
Rory is an Irish and Scottish name that means “red king”.
What is the origin of the name Rory?
Rory has Irish and Scottish roots. Rory is an English form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic Ruaidhrí, built from ruadh, meaning "red," and rí, meaning "king." It was a royal name in medieval Ireland, borne by Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland, and it was common among Scottish clan chiefs.
Is Rory a popular name?
Yes. Rory ranked #199 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Rory a boy or girl name?
Rory is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 40% of US babies named Rory were girls and 60% were boys.
How do you pronounce Rory?
Rory is usually pronounced ROR-ee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings