Unisex · #4,676 in 2026

Tory

A Tory is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The Tory ethos has been summed up with the phrase "God, King and Country".

  • English
Current Rank
#4,676
Peak Rank
#478 (1977)
Total Babies
7K
5-Yr Trend
-27%
👧 Girl peak #832 (4K total)
👦 Boy peak #478 (7K total)
👦As Boy Name
1947
First Year
2026
Last Year
1977
Peak Year
#478
Peak Rank
7K
Total Count
78
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1948
First Year
2026
Last Year
1977
Peak Year
#832
Peak Rank
4K
Total Count
78
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Tory

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A Tory is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The Tory ethos has been summed up with the phrase "God, King and Country".

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
Etymology
Further information: Rapparee The word Tory derives from the Irish tóraí , meaning 'outlaw' (literally 'pursuer'). It entered the English language in the 17th century, when it was used to describe Irish outlaws who survived by committing acts of robbery and plunder against English settlers. Later, it came to denote any Catholic or Royalist who had taken up arms against the English government. The word entered English politics during the Exclusion Crisis , emerging as a pejorative term for supporters of the Duke of York and his hereditary right to inherit the throne despite his Catholic religio

The Story of Tory

As a girl name

American parents first put Tory on the record books as a girl name in 1948, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1977, when 180 Torys were born — ranking #832 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Torys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,236 among girl names with 19 births, falling sharply (-30%). In total, more than 4K Torys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

American parents first put Tory on the record books as a boy name in 1947, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1977, when 286 Torys were born — ranking #478 that year. The 1970s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Torys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,676 among boy names with 22 births, falling sharply (-27%). In total, more than 7K Torys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Tory

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Tory. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Tory

Phonetically similar names — useful when Tory 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 Tory

What does the name Tory mean?
A Tory is an individual who supports a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalist conservatism which upholds the established social order as it has evolved through the history of Great Britain. The Tory ethos has been summed up with the phrase "God, King and Country".
What is the origin of the name Tory?
Tory has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Tory in 2026?
In 2026, Tory ranks #4,676 among boys' names in the U.S., with 22 babies given the name that year.
When was Tory most popular?
Tory reached its peak popularity in 1977, ranking #478 that year with 286 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Tory most popular?
Tory has historically been most popular in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Tory.
Is Tory a unisex name?
Yes — Tory is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 36% of Torys assigned female and 64% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Tory?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Tory include Cornell, Barbara, Ora. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Tory?
Common variants and related forms of Tory include Tori, Toria, Vic, Vicki, Vickie, Vicky. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

About the name Tory

Tory is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1947 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Tory's peak popularity came in 1977 when it ranked #478. Use the chart and map above to compare Tory's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.