Rory
Rory is a unisex name of Irish origin meaning “Red king or great king.” It ranked #199 in the United States in 2025. Anglicization of the Old Irish 'Ruaidhrí,' meaning red king.
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how do you pronounce Rory?
ROR-ee
where does the name Rory come from?
An anglicisation of the Irish Ruairí or Ruaidhrí, or the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh, from ruadh, red, and rígh, king: red king.
Borne by the last High King of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. Became newly popular for girls partly through the character Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls.
how popular is this name?
Rory has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 79 years since 1947. It peaked at #199 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #199 |
| 2024 | #227 |
| 2023 | #242 |
| 2022 | #280 |
| 2021 | #295 |
| 2020 | #330 |
| 2019 | #358 |
| 2018 | #368 |
| 2017 | #379 |
| 2016 | #386 |
| 2010 | #746 |
| 2000 | #631 |
| 1990 | #512 |
| 1980 | #438 |
| 1970 | #481 |
| 1960 | #311 |
| 1950 | #528 |
| 1947 | #805 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Rory fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Rory
The name is common among the Irish and Highland Scots and their descendants abroad.
who are famous people named Rory?
- Rory McIlroy
- Rory Gilmore (fictional)
- Rory Calhoun
what are the nicknames and variants of Rory?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Rory?
what names go well with Rory?
Sibling names that share Rory's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Rory
What does the name Rory mean?
Rory means “Red king or great king”.
What is the origin of the name Rory?
Rory comes from the Irish naming tradition. Related forms include Ruairí and Ruaraidh.
How popular is the name Rory?
Rory ranked #199 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #199, and it has spent 79 years in the top 1,000 since 1947.
Is Rory a boy or girl name?
Rory is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Rory?
Rory is pronounced ROR-ee, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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