Rory
Rory is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Red king or rust-colored ruler.
Origin and history
Rory is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ruaridh or Ruairí, derived from elements meaning red and king. Historically a traditional masculine name in Ireland and Scotland, it has seen a dramatic rise as a feminine given name in the United States since the 2010s. Its growth for girls in the U.S. was partly boosted by popular television characters and a broader trend toward gender-neutral names.
Popularity in the United States
13,580 babies in the United States have been named Rory since 1880. It ranks #1364 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #323.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.9 %)
- TX (7.7 %)
- NY (7.3 %)
- OH (5.7 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 129 |
| 1950-1960 | 223 |
| 1960-1970 | 185 |
| 1970-1980 | 342 |
| 1980-1990 | 345 |
| 1990-2000 | 377 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,085 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,026 |
| 2020-2029 | 5,868 |
Famous people named Rory
- Rory Gilmore: Fictional character
- Rory Kennedy: Documentary filmmaker, Producer
Fun facts
- The original Gaelic name Ruairí was borne by the last High King of Ireland, Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobhair, in the 12th century.
- The prominent character Rory Gilmore from the TV series 'Gilmore Girls' helped normalize Rory as a given name for girls in modern American culture.
- More than 40 percent of all U.S. female births recorded with the name Rory since 1880 occurred between 2020 and 2025.