gender neutral
Rory
red king
About Rory
This spirited name bursts with energy and charm, embodying a sense of adventure and roguish appeal. Celtic roots have given it a distinctive character that works beautifully across English-speaking countries. The double-R beginning creates a rolling, dynamic sound that's both playful and strong. Rory suggests a child who will be active, curious, and full of life—someone who tackles challenges with enthusiasm rather than trepidation. The name balances tradition with contemporary coolness, having been rediscovered by parents seeking alternatives to more common choices. Its four letters pack personality without pretension, and the -ry ending provides a friendly, informal feel. Rory ages well, transitioning smoothly from mischievous youngster to accomplished adult.
Popularity of the Name Rory
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | #812 | ||||
| 1948 | #615 | ||||
| 1949 | #545 | ||||
| 1950 | #533 | ||||
| 1951 | #606 | ||||
| 1952 | #547 | ||||
| 1953 | #479 | ||||
| 1954 | #415 | ||||
| 1955 | #372 | ||||
| 1956 | #327 | ||||
| 1957 | #345 | ||||
| 1958 | #347 | ||||
| 1959 | #280 | ||||
| 1960 | #311 | ||||
| 1961 | #351 | ||||
| 1962 | #349 | ||||
| 1963 | #410 | ||||
| 1964 | #424 | #74 | |||
| 1965 | #416 | #90 | |||
| 1966 | #481 | #84 | |||
| 1967 | #526 | #84 | |||
| 1968 | #579 | #81 | |||
| 1969 | #422 | #77 | |||
| 1970 | #483 | #91 | |||
| 1971 | #575 | #81 | |||
| 1972 | #583 | #80 | |||
| 1973 | #703 | #85 | |||
| 1974 | #623 | #298 | #91 | ||
| 1975 | #648 | #74 | |||
| 1976 | #520 | #75 | |||
| 1977 | #335 | #68 | |||
| 1978 | #376 | #69 | |||
| 1979 | #433 | #73 | |||
| 1980 | #439 | #74 | |||
| 1981 | #394 | #263 | #72 | ||
| 1982 | #281 | #156 | #59 | ||
| 1983 | #341 | #99 | #72 | ||
| 1984 | #342 | #130 | #67 | ||
| 1985 | #367 | #84 | #68 | ||
| 1986 | #407 | #142 | #74 | ||
| 1987 | #450 | #127 | #74 | ||
| 1988 | #447 | #105 | #79 | ||
| 1989 | #480 | #101 | #78 | ||
| 1990 | #511 | #137 | #69 | ||
| 1991 | #557 | #104 | #70 | #277 | |
| 1992 | #623 | #105 | #79 | #351 | |
| 1993 | #683 | #112 | #75 | #344 | |
| 1994 | #696 | #101 | #80 | #409 | |
| 1995 | #752 | #132 | #79 | #364 | |
| 1996 | #676 | #131 | #81 | #354 | |
| 1997 | #678 | #89 | #141 | #75 | #385 |
| 1998 | #609 | #94 | #120 | #53 | #371 |
| 1999 | #628 | #91 | #139 | #66 | #349 |
| 2000 | #631 | #106 | #148 | #66 | #380 |
| 2001 | #740 | #111 | #205 | #61 | #420 |
| 2002 | #698 | #116 | #143 | #57 | #416 |
| 2003 | #645 | #109 | #212 | #52 | #350 |
| 2004 | #724 | #119 | #136 | #48 | #363 |
| 2005 | #718 | #117 | #203 | #68 | #395 |
| 2006 | #830 | #108 | #200 | #45 | #316 |
| 2007 | #829 | #106 | #182 | #48 | #434 |
| 2008 | #784 | #112 | #144 | #52 | #447 |
| 2009 | #758 | #107 | #276 | #53 | #458 |
| 2010 | #748 | #107 | #255 | #56 | #452 |
| 2011 | #599 | #88 | #163 | #56 | #348 |
| 2012 | #481 | #81 | #162 | #42 | #313 |
| 2013 | #460 | #83 | #237 | #65 | #287 |
| 2014 | #417 | #75 | #221 | #67 | #294 |
| 2015 | #379 | #61 | #185 | #73 | #261 |
| 2016 | #386 | #64 | #227 | #74 | #278 |
| 2017 | #380 | #46 | #223 | #72 | #248 |
| 2018 | #369 | #42 | #192 | #76 | #225 |
| 2019 | #358 | #41 | #165 | #73 | #200 |
| 2020 | #330 | #37 | #174 | #75 | #202 |
| 2021 | #295 | #36 | #157 | #76 | #194 |
| 2022 | #280 | #31 | #195 | #97 | #192 |
| 2023 | #242 | #28 | #155 | #77 | #146 |
| 2024 | #227 | #22 | #145 | #70 | #138 |
| 2025 | #199 | #17 | #123 | #62 | #125 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Rory
- Ruaridh
- Ruairí
- Ruairi
Names Similar to Rory
Nicknames for Rory
- Ro
- Rors
- Roy
Famous People Named Rory
| Rory McIlroy | Professional Golfer |
| Rory Gallagher | Irish Blues-Rock Musician |
| Rory Kinnear | British Actor |
| Rory Calhoun | American Actor |
| Rory McCann | Scottish Actor |
| Rory Culkin | American Actor |
| Rory Albanese | American Writer and Comedian |
| Rory Delap | Irish Footballer |
| Rory Underwood | English Rugby Player |
| Rory Burns | English Cricketer |
| Rory Reid | British Television Presenter |
| Rory Stewart | British Politician and Writer |
| Rory Cochrane | American Actor |
| Rory Fallon | New Zealand Footballer |
| Rory McGrath | British Comedian and Writer |
| Rory Best | Irish Rugby Player |
| Rory MacDonald | Scottish Singer-Songwriter |
| Rory Kennedy | Irish Politician |
Characters Named Rory
| Rory Williams | Doctor Who |
| Rory Gilmore | Gilmore Girls |
| Rory Breaker | Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels |
| Rory Flanagan | Glee |
| Rory MacNeil | The Etruscan Smile |
| Rory Campbell | X-Men |
| Rory Mercury | GATE |
| Rory Pond | Doctor Who |
| Rory Shovel | Flight of the Conchords |
| Rory Dugan | Ratcatcher |
| Rory Regan | DC Comics |
| Rory Baxter | Criminal Minds |
| Rory Blake | 24 |
| Rory Geary | The Tribe |
| Rory O'Shea | Inside I'm Dancing |
| Rory Martin | Hollyoaks |
| Rory Swann | StarCraft II |
| Rory O'Sullivan | Primeval |
| Rory Wheeler | Breaking Bad |
| Rory Green | The Last Boy Scout |