Rory Pronunciation ROR -ee[ 1] Gender Masculine (Ireland, Scotland)Unisex (United States, Canada)[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] Language(s) English , Irish , Scottish Language(s) Celtic languages (Gaelic)Word/name Anglicisation of Ruairí / Ruaidhrí (Irish) and Ruairidh /Ruaraidh (Scottish) Meaning "red king" Region of origin Ireland ; Scotland Variant form(s) RorieRori Related names Riordan , Roderick , from Ruairi (Ruaridh , Ruaidhrí , Ruairí , Ruairidh , Ruaraidh , Ruaidhrígh , "Ruari"), Aurora
Rory is a given name of Gaelic origin. It is an anglicisation of the Irish : Ruairí /Ruaidhrí and Scottish Gaelic : Ruairidh /Ruaraidh [ 6] and is common to the Irish , Highland Scots and their diasporas.[ 7] The meaning of the name is "red king", composed of ruadh ("red") and rígh ("king").[ 8]
In Ireland and Scotland , it is generally seen as a masculine name and therefore rarely given to females.[ 9]
An early use of the name in antiquity is in reference to Rudraige mac Sithrigi , a High King of Ireland who eventually spawned the Ulaid (indeed, this tribe are sometimes known as Clanna Rudhraighe ). Ruadrí mac Domnall was the grandfather of famous Scottish king Macbeth and the eponymous founder of Clann Ruaidrí (House of Moray ).[ 10] Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was in use by various kings, such as Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin , Ruaidrí na Saide Buide and Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , the last High King of Ireland. As well as this, Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha , the famous King of Laois, and his nephew Ruairí Ó Mórdha , who was a leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 , held the name, and Ruaidrí Ó Domhnaill , King of Tyrconnell of the O'Donnell dynasty who was deeply involved in the saga known as the Flight of the Earls.
Rory has seen increasing use in females since the early 2000s, especially in the United States , where it became among the top 1000 female baby names in 2003. As of 2022, Rory ranked 280th in popularity for males and 335th for females in the US .[ 2] A similar trend can be observed in Canada , where the name has seen increasing use in females since 2001 and especially 2015.[ 3]
Rory can alternatively be a nickname for "Aurora ", “Gloria ”, or "Lorelai ".
The standard Scottish Gaelic pronunciation is /ˈruə̯.rʲɪ/ , and in Munster Irish /rəiˈrʲiː/ . In English, it is typically pronounced as (ROR -ee ).[ 1] In Classical Gaelic, the name was written Ruaidhrigh , and in Old Irish Ruaidríg /ruaðʲr͈ʲiːʝʲ/ (Proto Celtic *roudo-riks ). There are numerous other recorded variations of the name such as Ruaidrí , Ruaidhrí , Ruairdhrí , Rhuairidh , Ruaridh , Rhuari , Rhuaridh , Ruarídh , Ruarí , Roighrí , Rauridh or Raighrí . Historically, it has also been anglicised by replacement with the Germanic names Roderick and Roger , particularly the former.[ 11]
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785), King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the Laigin
Ruaidrí ua Canannáin (died 950), king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources High King of Ireland
Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (died 1118), called Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (Ruaidrí of the Yellow Birch), King of Connacht
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , 12th century King of Connacht and the last High King of Ireland
Ruaidri mac Cathal Ua Conchobair , King of Connacht in Ireland
Ruaidri mac Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair , King of Connacht, died 1384
Ruaidri Caech mac Diarmata (1404–1421), see Kings of Magh Luirg
Ruaidri Óg mac Diarmata (1478–1486), see Kings of Magh Luirg
Ruaidri mac Diarmata (1549–1568), see Kings of Magh Luirg
Ruaidrí Ó Domhnaill (1575–1608), King and Earl of Tyrconnell
Ruaidrí Ó Gadhra (died 1256), Irish king
Ruaidri Ó Cellaigh (died 1339), Irish king
Ruaidrí Ó Curnín (died 1496), Irish poet
Ruaidhri Ó Cianáin (died 1387), Irish historian
Rúaidhrí Conroy (born 1979), Irish actor
Ruaidhrí mac Coscraigh (fl. 990s), Irish king
Rúaidhrí de Valera (1916–1978), Irish archaeologist
Ruaidhrí Ó Dubhda (fl. 1380), Irish king
Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh (1629–1716/18), Irish historian
Ruaidhri Ó Flaithbheartaigh (fl. 1200s), Irish king
Rúaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1061), Irish king
Ruaidhri Ua Flaithbheartaigh (died 1145), Irish king
Ruaidhrí Gilla Dubh Ó Seachnasaigh (died 1569), Irish knight
Ruaidhrí Higgins (born 1984), manager of Derry City F.C. in the League of Ireland
Ruaidhri Mac Aedha (died 1170), Irish lord
Ruaidhrí mac Raghnaill (died 1247?), Hebridean magnate
Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí (died 1318?), Scottish magnate
Ruaidhrí Mear Ua Dubhda (fl. 1100s), Irish king
Ruaidhrí Murphy (born 1987), Irish rugby union footballer
Ruaidhri Roberts (1917–1986), Irish trade union leader
Ruaidhri Smith (born 1994), Scottish cricketer
Bantum (real name Ruairí Lynch; born 1983), Irish multi-instrumentalist, musician, DJ, producer and composer
Ruairí Mac Easmainn (1864–1916), Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalist
Ruairí Brugha (1917–2006), Irish politician
Ruairí Ó Brádaigh (1932–2013), Irish Republican Army member
Ruairí Canavan (born 2003), Gaelic footballer
Ruairi O'Connor (born 1991), Irish actor
Ruairí Convery (born 1984), Northern Irish hurler
Ruairí Deane (born 1991), Irish Gaelic footballer
Ruairí Ó Gadhra (died 1206), Irish king
Ruairi Glynn , installation artist
Ruairí Harkin (born 1989), Irish footballer
Ruairí Keating (born 1995), Irish footballer
Ruairi McGoff (born 1985), English-Canadian rugby league footballer
Ruairí McKiernan , Irish author and social entrepreneur
Ruairí Ó Murchú (born 1978), Irish politician
Ruairi Quinn (born 1946), Irish politician
Ruairi O'Rahilly , Gaelic footballer
Ruairí Robinson (born 1978), Irish film director and writer
Ruairí McKiernan (born 1977), Irish social activist
Rory Anderson (born 1992), American football player
Rory Barnes (born 1946), Australian writer
Rory Best (born 1982), Irish rugby union footballer
Rory Boulding (born 1988), English footballer
Rory Brady (1957–2010), Irish lawyer
Rory Bremner (born 1961), Scottish comedian
Rory Brennan (born 1945), Irish poet
Rory Brien (born 1991), rugby league footballer
Rory Burns (born 1990), English cricketer
Rory Byrne (born 1944), South African racing car designer
Rory Calhoun (1922–1999), American actor
Rory Carroll (born 1972), Irish journalist
Rory Cellan-Jones (born 1958), British journalist
Rory Cochrane (born 1972), American actor
Rory Collins (born 1955), epidemiologist
Rory Enrique Conde (born 1965), Colombian serial killer
Rory Culkin (born 1989), American actor
Rory Delap (born 1976), Irish football player
Rory Dodd , Canadian rock vocalist
Rory Fairweather-Neylan (born 1987), Australian ballet dancer
Rory Fallon (born 1982), New Zealand football player
Rory Feely (born 1997), Irish association football player
Rory Fitzpatrick (born 1975), American ice hockey player
Rory Gallagher (1948–1995), Irish musician
Rory Hamilton-Brown (born 1987), English cricketer
Rory Jacob (born 1983), Irish hurler
Rory Jennings (born 1983), British actor
Rory Johnson (born 1986), American football player
Rory Jones (born 1955), South African football player
Rory Kiely (1934–2018), Irish politician
Rory Kinnear (born 1978), English actor
Rory Kockott (born 1986), South African rugby player representing France internationally
Rory Lamont (born 1982), Scottish rugby player
Rory Lawson (born 1981), Scottish international rugby union player
Rory Lee Feek (born 1966), American country music singer and songwriter
Rory Leidelmeyer , American bodybuilder
Rory Loy (born 1988), Scottish footballer
Rory Macdonald (conductor) (born 1980), Scottish conductor
Rory MacDonald (fighter) (born 1989), Canadian professional mixed martial artist
Rory Macdonald (musician) (born 1949), Scottish bassist
Rory MacGregor (born 1976), British actor
Rory MacLean (born 1954), Canadian writer
Rory Makem (born 1969) Irish-American musician
Rory Markas (1955–2010), American sportscaster
Rory Markham (born 1982), American mixed martial artist
Rory McCann (born 1969), Scottish actor
Rory McEwen (politician) (born 1948), Australian politician
Rory McEwen (artist) (1932–1982), Scottish artist and musician
Rory McGrath (born 1956), English comedian
Rory McIlroy (born 1989), Northern Irish golfer
Rory McLeod (singer-songwriter) (born 1957), English singer-songwriter
Rory McLeod (snooker player) (born 1971), English professional snooker player
Rory McTurk , British philologist
Rory O'Connor (Irish republican) (1883–1922), Irish republican activist
Rory O'Hanlon (born 1934), Irish politician
Rory O'Malley (born 1980), Broadway actor
Rory (Roger) O'Moore (1620–1655), Irish rebel
Rory O'Tunny (c. 1541–1542), Irish sculptor
Rory Peck (1956–1993), British journalist
Rory Reid (born 1963), American politician
Rory Sabbatini (born 1976), South African golfer
Rory J Saper (born 1996), English actor
Rory Schlein (born 1984), Australian speedway rider
Rory Singer (born 1976), American mixed martial artist
Rory Sparrow (born 1958), American basketball player
Rory Smith (born 1987), Canadian lacrosse player
Rory Steele (born 1943), Australian author
Rory Stewart (born 1973), British politician, diplomat and author
Rory Storm (1938–1972), English musician
Rory Sutherland (born 1982), Australian racing cyclist
Rory Underwood (born 1963), English rugby player
Rory Watson (born 1996), English footballer
Fictional Characters [ edit ]
^ a b "How to pronounce Rory" . forvo.com . Retrieved 21 April 2017 .
^ a b "Popular Baby Names" . The United States Social Security Administration . 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022 .
^ a b "Baby Names Observatory" . Statistics Canada . 9 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Rory (female name)" . Thinkbabynames.com . Retrieved 5 March 2024 .
^ "Rory - Baby Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity" . Nameberry.com . Retrieved 3 April 2024 .
^ Martin-Doyle, Katie (1999). Treasury of Baby Names . Cambridge: Worth Press. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-903025-11-6 . Anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic names Ruaidhri, Ruari, and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh and Ruaraidh
^ Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (1996). Learn about the family history of your surname . Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280050-7 . for the given name "Rory".
^ McLaughlin, Sean (1 May 2023). Celtic Names: Their Meaning, History and Mythology . Arcturus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-3988-3279-4 .
^ "Baby Names of Ireland - CSO - Central Statistics Office" . www.cso.ie . Retrieved 4 June 2021 .
^ Jackson, Kenneth Hurlstone (2 March 1972). The Gaelic Notes in the Book of Deer . Cambridge University Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-521-08264-8 .
^ Talbot, Henry Fox (1847). English Etymologies . John Murray. p. 427.
Native masculine names Native feminine names Germanic-derived masculine names Bible-derived masculine names Bible-derived feminine names Latin/Greek-derived masculine names Latin/Greek-derived feminine names See also