Rory Unisex

Popularity: #195 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROHR-ee //ˈrɔːri//

Origin: Irish; Scottish

Meaning: Irish: red king; Scottish: from the red-haired one

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Rory has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically derived from the Old Irish name "Ruaridh," which is composed of the elements "ruadh," meaning "red," and "rí," meaning "king." This etymology suggests a literal interpretation of "red king," which may have originally referred to a person with red hair or a leader of a clan. The name transitioned into the Anglicized form "Rory" during the medieval period, as Gaelic names were adapted into English, particularly in regions of Ireland and Scotland where Gaelic culture was prominent.

Historically, the name Rory is associated with several notable figures, including Rory O'Connor, the last High King of Ireland, who ruled in the 12th century. His reign marked a significant period in Irish history, as it was characterized by the increasing influence of the Anglo-Normans.

Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and literature, including the works of the 16th-century Scottish poet William Dunbar, who referenced Rory in his writings. The name's prominence in Irish and Scottish history has contributed to its enduring legacy.

Culturally, Rory has been embraced in both Irish and Scottish traditions, often symbolizing strength and leadership. The name has been borne by various saints and historical figures, further solidifying its significance in Celtic heritage.

In literature and folklore, characters named Rory often embody qualities of bravery and nobility, reinforcing the name's association with leadership. The diminutive form "Rory" has also been used affectionately, reflecting a sense of familiarity and warmth in familial and social contexts.

Overall, the name Rory carries a rich historical and cultural resonance that has persisted through the centuries.

Famous people named Rory

In this section, you will find notable people named Rory. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rory who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Rory who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Rory McIlroy is a professional golfer best known for winning the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship.

Rory Culkin is an actor best known for roles in Signs, Mean Creek, and Scream 4.

Rory Kinnear is an actor and playwright best known for his work in the James Bond films, The National Theatre's Frankenstein, and the TV series Penny Dreadful.

Rory Cochrane is an actor best known for roles in Dazed and Confused, Black Mass, and the TV series 24.

Fictional characters named Rory

The following list of fictional characters named Rory is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Rory Williams is a fictional character from the TV series Doctor Who. He is a companion of the Doctor and the husband of Amy Pond, playing a crucial role in their adventures through time and space.

Rory McCann is a fictional character from the TV series Game of Thrones. He is known for his role as Sandor Clegane, also known as the Hound, who is a complex character with a fierce reputation and a significant impact on the story.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rory, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RyanRonanRileyReidRubenRocco

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rory. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

CoryDoryToryZoryJoryMoryStory

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rory was first seen in the United States in 1933.

Rory has ranked as high as #198 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Rory has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Rory is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rory was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rory.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 3,100 1,768 1,332
2024 2,701 1,596 1,105
2023 2,453 1,447 1,006
2022 2,188 1,229 959
2021 1,926 1,135 791
2020 1,672 997 675
2019 1,601 924 677
2018 1,414 884 530
2017 1,396 862 534
2016 1,298 828 470
2015 1,272 853 419
2014 1,078 748 330
2013 895 610 285
2012 812 564 248
2011 701 413 288
2010 549 304 245
2009 590 303 287
2008 556 281 275
2007 505 260 245
2006 477 246 231
2005 481 283 198
2004 465 264 201
2003 550 316 234
2002 445 258 187
2001 378 236 142
2000 375 290 85
1999 346 287 59
1998 355 302 53
1997 285 240 45
1996 282 242 40
1995 234 204 30
1994 258 223 35
1993 252 228 24
1992 302 273 29
1991 364 333 31
1990 405 374 31
1989 435 396 39
1988 440 406 34
1987 417 390 27
1986 476 444 32
1985 541 502 39
1984 587 549 38
1983 575 535 40
1982 777 735 42
1981 452 426 26
1980 383 355 28
1979 370 342 28
1978 457 418 39
1977 589 538 51
1976 273 240 33
1975 181 160 21
1974 194 167 27
1973 155 131 24
1972 219 187 32
1971 240 204 36
1970 332 281 51
1969 456 351 105
1968 189 171 18
1967 202 202 0
1966 255 255 0
1965 358 353 5
1964 375 366 9
1963 395 386 9
1962 522 508 14
1961 521 507 14
1960 649 638 11
1959 819 802 17
1958 502 486 16
1957 495 476 19
1956 545 511 34
1955 392 375 17
1954 310 297 13
1953 236 214 22
1952 175 163 12
1951 166 134 32
1950 204 163 41
1949 195 150 45
1948 165 122 43
1947 114 73 41
1946 36 36 0
1945 20 20 0
1944 14 14 0
1943 14 14 0
1942 16 16 0
1941 10 10 0
1940 7 7 0
1939 5 5 0
1933 5 5 0

Top States for Rory (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 193
7%
NY 170
6%
PA 149
6%
TX 138
5%
IL 117
4%
OH 114
4%
MA 112
4%
MI 107
4%
FL 106
4%
MN 86
3%
WA 77
3%
WI 76
3%
NC 74
3%
NJ 73
3%
IN 67
3%
CO 65
2%
AZ 62
2%
GA 61
2%
VA 60
2%
MO 59
2%
OR 52
2%
TN 50
2%
CT 49
2%
MD 45
2%
UT 45
2%
IA 43
2%
KY 42
2%
LA 40
2%
KS 39
1%
SC 34
1%
OK 32
1%
AL 27
1%
NE 21
1%
AR 20
1%
ID 20
1%
SD 20
1%
ME 19
1%
MT 19
1%
ND 12
0%
WV 12
0%
NV 12
0%
NH 11
0%
RI 10
0%
MS 10
0%
DC 9
0%
HI 5
0%