Rory
Rory is a given name of Gaelic origin. It is an anglicisation of the Irish: Ruairí/Ruaidhrí and Scottish Gaelic: Ruairidh/Ruaraidh and is common to the Irish, Highland Scots and their diasporas. The meaning of the name is "red king", composed of ruadh ("red") and rígh ("king").
- Irish
- Scottish
- English
Meaning & Origin of Rory
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rory is a given name of Gaelic origin. It is an anglicisation of the Irish: Ruairí/Ruaidhrí and Scottish Gaelic: Ruairidh/Ruaraidh and is common to the Irish, Highland Scots and their diasporas. The meaning of the name is "red king", composed of ruadh ("red") and rígh ("king").
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
- Scottish
- English
Origin & history
The Story of Rory
As a girl name
American parents first put Rory on the record books as a girl name in 1947, with 41 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 1,202 Rorys were born — ranking #267 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 47% of all recorded Rorys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #267 among girl names with 1,202 births, rising sharply (+69% over the past five years). In total, more than 15K Rorys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Rory as a boy name dates back to 1933, when 5 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 1,704 newborns named Rory — #207 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Rorys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #207 among boy names with 1,704 births, rising sharply (+58% over the past five years). In total, more than 37K Rorys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rory
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rory. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Rorie
- Ruaidhrí
- Ruairidh
Names that sound like Rory
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rory is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rory
What does the name Rory mean?
What is the origin of the name Rory?
How popular is Rory in 2026?
When was Rory most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rory most popular?
Is Rory a unisex name?
What names go well with Rory?
What are nicknames or variants of Rory?
About the name Rory
Rory is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1933 and has accumulated 37K births in the dataset. Rory's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #207. Use the chart and map above to compare Rory's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.