Rory Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Rory is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Rory?
Rory is spelled R-O-R-Y. The name has 4 letters.
Rory at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Rory derives from the Gaelic elements “ruadh” meaning “red” and “rí” meaning “king.”
- Origin
- Rory is a name commonly associated with Irish and Scottish Gaelic origins.
- Pronunciation
- ROR-ee · 2 syllables
Rory Popularity in 2025
Rank#230
Recorded Births1,332
Rank#199
Recorded Births1,768
- Girls usage rose 57 places to #230 and recorded 227 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 28 places to #199 and recorded 172 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Rory Mean?
Rory derives from the Gaelic elements “ruadh” meaning “red” and “rí” meaning “king.”
Origin: Rory is a name commonly associated with Irish and Scottish Gaelic origins.
How Do You Pronounce Rory?
PronunciationROR-ee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Rory?
- History
- The name Rory has appeared in various historical documents related to Gaelic-speaking regions but lacks a singular attributed point of origin.
Rory Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,332 | #230 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,768 | #199 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,105 | #287 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,596 | #227 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,006 | #305 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,447 | #242 |
| 2022 | Girls | 959 | #335 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,229 | #280 |
| 2021 | Girls | 791 | #399 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,135 | #295 |
| 2020 | Girls | 675 | #458 |
| 2020 | Boys | 997 | #330 |
| 2019 | Girls | 677 | #459 |
| 2019 | Boys | 924 | #358 |
| 2018 | Girls | 530 | #580 |
| 2018 | Boys | 884 | #368 |
| 2017 | Girls | 534 | #564 |
| 2017 | Boys | 862 | #379 |
| 2016 | Girls | 470 | #637 |
| 2016 | Boys | 828 | #386 |
| 2015 | Girls | 419 | #680 |
| 2015 | Boys | 853 | #379 |
| 2014 | Girls | 330 | #838 |
| 2014 | Boys | 748 | #415 |
When Was Rory Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
1,768 recorded births
National rank #199
2024 · Boys
1,596 recorded births
National rank #227
2023 · Boys
1,447 recorded births
National rank #242
2025 · Girls
1,332 recorded births
National rank #230
Where Rory Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MT | #105 | 9 |
| ME | #116 | 9 |
| SD | #117 | 9 |
| MA | #120 | 44 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #56 | 106 |
| CT | #97 | 37 |
| NH | #106 | 14 |
| MT | #109 | 11 |
| WI | #112 | 54 |
| ME | #113 | 12 |
| MN | #118 | 53 |
| IL | #120 | 97 |