Pronunciation
Ror-ee
Meaning
Red-haired king
Related forms: Ruairí (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Ruairí; Ruaidhrí; Ruairi; Ruaidhrígh
Fun fact
Rory is an anglicised spelling of Ruairí. Ruadh is connected with red hair, and rí means king. Rory is an anglicised form you'll probably recognise. You'll also see Ruairi without the fada, so check the spelling as well as the sound.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Rory, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93 | #60 |
| 2024 | 86 | #68 |
| 2023 | 87 | #74 |
| 2022 | 68 | #94 |
| 2021 | 90 | #74 |
| 2020 | 92 | #72 |
| 2019 | 99 | #71 |
| 2018 | 93 | #72 |
| 2017 | 101 | #72 |
| 2016 | 97 | #74 |
| 2015 | 108 | #73 |
| 2014 | 124 | #66 |
| 2013 | 126 | #65 |
| 2012 | 200 | #42 |
| 2011 | 159 | #56 |
| 2010 | 155 | #56 |
| 2009 | 172 | #52 |
| 2008 | 172 | #49 |
| 2007 | 169 | #48 |
| 2006 | 170 | #45 |
| 2005 | 114 | #68 |
| 2004 | 156 | #48 |
| 2003 | 130 | #52 |
| 2002 | 116 | #57 |
| 2001 | 112 | #61 |
| 2000 | 89 | #65 |
| 1999 | 90 | #64 |
| 1998 | 100 | #53 |
| 1997 | 99 | #74 |
| 1996 | 82 | #81 |
| 1995 | 78 | #79 |
| 1994 | 76 | #79 |
| 1993 | 85 | #75 |
| 1992 | 83 | #78 |
| 1991 | 91 | #70 |
| 1990 | 101 | #69 |
| 1989 | 85 | #77 |
| 1988 | 79 | #79 |
| 1987 | 96 | #74 |
| 1986 | 104 | #74 |
| 1985 | 110 | #68 |
| 1984 | 117 | #67 |
| 1983 | 106 | #72 |
| 1982 | 155 | #59 |
| 1981 | 124 | #72 |
| 1980 | 115 | #74 |
| 1979 | 117 | #72 |
| 1978 | 125 | #69 |
| 1977 | 130 | #68 |
| 1976 | 103 | #74 |
| 1975 | 102 | #74 |
| 1974 | 79 | #90 |
| 1973 | 92 | #85 |
| 1972 | 94 | #80 |
| 1971 | 88 | #81 |
| 1970 | 68 | #90 |
| 1969 | 78 | #75 |
| 1968 | 65 | #79 |
| 1967 | 58 | #82 |
| 1966 | 56 | #83 |
| 1965 | 43 | #90 |
| 1964 | 56 | #73 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.