Boy · Irish · International
Rory
RorySay it ROR-ee
- Meaning
- Red king: Irish rua(dh), "red, red-haired", and rí, "king" Ó Dónaill
- Say it
- ROR-ee
- Other spellings
- Ruairí, Rorie
Rory
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Rory meaning
Rory is an international boy's name of Irish origin.
Red king: Irish rua(dh), "red, red-haired", and rí, "king"
Rory is the English form of the Irish name Ruairí, older Ruaidrí, and of Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh. It joins two words: rua, which Ó Dónaill's Irish dictionary gives as red or red-haired, and rí, 'king', a word used for anyone from a tribal chief to the King of Heaven. So the name means 'red king' or 'red-haired king'. Its most famous early bearer was Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion; today the golfer Rory McIlroy carries it. Baby-name lists give 'red king', which matches. It is said ROR-ee.
Source: Ó Dónaill, Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (1977), via teanglann.ie · entry rua; rí · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Ó Dónaill, rua · Ó Dónaill, rí · Wikipedia, Rory
Famous namesakes
- Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, last High King of Ireland
- Rory McIlroy, Northern Irish golfer
Popularity abroad
- #199 United States, boys 2025 (up 28 from 227 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #17 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Rory · Ruairí · Rorie