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Rory as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Rory

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The baby name Rory is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrɔːri/ (ROR-ee).

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: /ˈrɔːri/ (ROR-ee)

What is the meaning of the name Rory ?

The baby name Rory is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrɔːri/ (ROR-ee).

Rory is in Origin.

Rory is the Anglicised form of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Ruairí/Ruaidhrí (Scottish Ruairidh/Ruaridh), derived from Old Irish ruad “red” + rí “king,” hence “red(-haired) king.” The name was prominent in medieval Gaelic realms; bearers include Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the 12th‑century last High King of Ireland, and various Scottish clan leaders.

In English, Rory became established both as a stand‑alone given name and, in Scotland and England, as a familiar form of Roderick. Contemporary variants and spellings include Ruairí, Ruaidhrí, Ruairidh, Ruaridh, Rory, Rori, Rorey, and Rauri; feminine use often appears as Rory on its own or as a nickname for Aurora. The name saw revival with the 19th‑century Celtic cultural movement and today is widely used across the Anglophone world, remaining strongly associated with Ireland and Scotland while functioning as a modern unisex choice.

Rory has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Rory

Rory Culkin Actor · Born 1989 · United States Rory Culkin is an American actor best known for his role in the film 'Signs' alongside Mel Gibson. He has also appeared in 'Scream 4' and 'Lords of Chaos', showcasing his versatility in both thriller and drama genres. Rory Kinnear Actor · Born 1978 · United Kingdom Rory Kinnear is a British actor best known for his role as Bill Tanner in the James Bond films 'Skyfall', 'Spectre', and 'No Time to Die'. He has also received acclaim for his performances in the National Theatre's productions of 'Othello' and 'Hamlet'. Rory Cochrane Actor · Born 1972 · United States Rory Cochrane is an American actor best known for his role as Ron Slater in the cult classic film 'Dazed and Confused'. He also gained recognition for his performances in 'Empire Records' and the TV series 'CSI: Miami'.
Rory McCann Actor · Born 1969 · United Kingdom Rory McCann is a Scottish actor best known for his role as Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane in the television series Game of Thrones. He has also appeared in films like Hot Fuzz and Jumanji: The Next Level. Born in 1969 in the United Kingdom, McCann has built a diverse acting career in both television and film. Rory Calhoun Actor · Born 1922 · United States Rory Calhoun was an American actor best known for his roles in Westerns during the 1950s and 1960s. He starred in films like 'River of No Return' alongside Marilyn Monroe and 'The Texan'. His rugged charm and on-screen presence made him a memorable figure in Hollywood's golden era.

Celebrity babies named Rory

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Rory Nolan Emma Thomas film producer ★★★★★ Christopher Nolan film director ★★★★★
Rory Flynn Errol Flynn film director ★★★★★

Rory – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
JP 0 #74 4 4,057
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
JM 0 #91 3 3,714
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
QA 0 #105 2 7,011
PH 0 #107 4 5,607
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
Canada Boys 2024 #119 231 2,588
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
CY Boys 0 #130 2 3,473
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
Switzerland Boys 2024 #135 3 1,769
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
BW Girls 0 #150 2 4,216
CR 0 #162 4 5,526
Sweden Boys 2020 #174 4 1,548
Sweden Girls 2011 #174 2 1,465
MT Boys 0 #176 4 4,064
Canada Girls 2024 #179 109 2,795
AE 0 #184 4 10,220
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
United States Boys 2024 #213 1,594 7,044
LU Boys 0 #217 4 4,970
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
JM Boys 0 #222 51 6,876
MO Boys 0 #232 3 5,842
BD 0 #239 3 5,992
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
NA Boys 0 #250 4 6,830
TW Boys 0 #251 6 7,111
United States Girls 2024 #256 1,102 8,487
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
SG 0 #276 7 11,010
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
JP Boys 0 #299 5 7,909
AL Boys 0 #303 1 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
CN Boys 0 #305 15 9,639
SA 0 #309 4 10,560
JO Girls 0 #316 10 7,570
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
HK 0 #339 10 8,483
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
QA Girls 0 #340 4 15,378
SD Girls 0 #350 9 7,678
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
CN Girls 0 #357 3 8,829
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
MU Boys 0 #366 4 8,477
YE 0 #369 13 8,639
PT Boys 0 #375 7 7,951
ZA 0 #376 72 14,421
NL 0 #378 14 2,481
France Boys 2021 #379 9 2,865
PH Girls 0 #379 12 13,098
EG 0 #384 17 6,387
PH Boys 0 #401 8 11,440
BO 0 #404 5 6,868
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
OM Girls 0 #419 6 15,987
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
PA Boys 0 #465 17 9,305
CR Boys 0 #472 16 10,188
LY 0 #478 58 12,703
AR Boys 0 #482 2 7,628
HK Boys 0 #488 40 12,905
IQ Girls 0 #489 16 11,303
SY 0 #490 261 11,684
RU Boys 0 #493 13 12,621
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
KW Girls 0 #502 14 19,177
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
RU Girls 0 #517 7 11,913
PS Girls 0 #542 6 10,981
AE Girls 0 #544 10 20,968
EG Girls 0 #557 470 14,742
PS Boys 0 #560 2 10,655
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
CR Girls 0 #567 7 11,342
BO Boys 0 #571 22 9,244
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
BH 0 #580 8 17,937
IL Girls 0 #606 12 11,648
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
SG Girls 0 #630 3 18,916
LB 0 #636 23 13,263
CL Boys 0 #640 26 13,390
BO Girls 0 #643 9 9,488
HK Girls 0 #648 3 16,104
Finland Boys 2026 #663 20 3,552
SG Boys 0 #671 27 17,960
IT 0 #679 36 4,183
IQ Boys 0 #694 4 13,071
QA Boys 0 #735 9 18,093
NL Boys 0 #743 210 5,873
SA Girls 0 #746 190 25,931
ZA Boys 0 #778 440 25,619
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
KW Boys 0 #804 3 18,755
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
PE Boys 0 #835 44 14,506
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
EG Boys 0 #875 12 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #902 29 5,610
CO Boys 0 #909 12 15,656
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
OM Boys 0 #917 2 17,948
Germany Boys 0 #939 14 5,697
NL Girls 0 #941 15 5,933
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
NG Boys 0 #996 6 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,004 7 14,861
MX Boys 0 #1,030 4 16,355
AE Boys 0 #1,067 26 22,615
MY Girls 0 #1,070 3 24,821
MY Boys 0 #1,092 20 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,108 34 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,148 5 16,140
MA 0 #1,196 4 20,986
TR 0 #1,198 14 19,440
DZ 0 #1,229 6 20,130
IT Girls 0 #1,248 199 9,415
MX Girls 0 #1,260 8 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,384 88 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,587 28 28,008

Rory is popular in 77 countries — most recent births per country:

Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
France
United States

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Rory

Rory is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Rory is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈrɔːri/ (ROR-ee).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Ruairí, Ruaidhrí, Ruaridh, Ruaidhri, Rori and Rorie.
Across languages, Rory has these equivalents: Ruarí (Irish), Ruaridh/Ruaidhri (Scottish Gaelic), Roderick (sometimes used as an Anglicized equivalent).
Yes, very popular — Rory ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Rory ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Yes — 5 notable people named Rory are in our database, including Rory Culkin (Actor), Rory Kinnear (Actor), Rory Cochrane (Actor).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Rory for their child, including Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan.