Rory
Meaning of Rory
Rory is an anglicized form of the Irish name Ruairí and the Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh, both derived from Old Irish Ruaidrí. Name dictionaries generally explain the meaning as "red king," from ruadh ("red") and rí ("king"). Some sources note that the original sense may have been a red-haired king, but "red king" is the usual gloss. It is pronounced ROR-ee.
The name is used for both boys and girls, though it has historically been more common for boys. In Ireland and Scotland it has long been a familiar given name. Its best-known bearer is Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, a former world number one and five-time major champion. Rory Calhoun, an American actor known for Westerns and films such as How to Marry a Millionaire, is another familiar namesake. In popular culture, Rory Gilmore is the central character of the television series Gilmore Girls.
In the United States, Rory has climbed sharply in recent years. In 2025 it ranked 199th, with 1,768 babies, its highest count and best rank to date. As recently as 2011 it ranked 599th, and in 1995 it stood at 750th. Its use is now far above its 1990s level.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as ROR-ee (/ˈrɔri/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Rory
| Rory McIlroy is a Northern Irish golfer, former world number one and five time major champion, who became the sixth man and first European to complete the modern career grand slam. |
| Rory MacDonald is a Canadian former mixed martial artist, a Bellator welterweight world champion and UFC title challenger who later competed in the PFL and earlier held the King of the Cage lightweight title. |
| Rory Calhoun was an American film and television actor known for 1950s and 1960s Westerns and supporting roles in How to Marry a Millionaire and Motel Hell. |
| Rory Kennedy - Rory Elizabeth Katherine Kennedy is an American documentary filmmaker whose work tackles social issues including addiction, nuclear power, the treatment of prisoners of war, and politics at the US Mexico border. |
| Rory McLeod is an English Jamaican former professional snooker player who won the 2015 Ruhr Open, made ten last 16s in ranking events, and reached a career high of world No. 32. |
| Rory Kinnear is an English actor who won two Olivier Awards at the National Theatre for playing Sir Fopling Flutter in The Man of Mode and Iago in Othello. |
| Rory Bremner is a Scottish impressionist and comedian known for political satire, sketch shows with John Bird and John Fortune, and as a team captain in the first two series of Mock the Week. |
| Rory Best is an Irish former rugby union hooker who captained Ireland from 2016 to 2019, earned 124 caps, played for Ulster, and retired after the 2019 Rugby World Cup as one of the most capped rugby players ever. |
| Rory Joseph Burns is an English cricketer who has played Test cricket for England and captains Surrey in first class and List A cricket. |
| Rory O'Connor - Roderick OConnor was an Irish republican and IRA engineering director who opposed the Anglo Irish Treaty, helped lead the Anti Treaty IRA in 1922, and was executed without trial after the Four Courts siege. |
| Rory Scovel - Rory J. Scovel is an American comedian, actor, and writer who debuted with the album Dilation in 2011 and has released stand-up specials through 2024. |
| Rory Reid is an English TV presenter and journalist focused on motoring and technology, best known for Top Gear and Extra Gear, who now leads YouTube content at Auto Trader and hosts Fifth Gear Recharged. |
| Rory Lee Feek is an American country singer songwriter who wrote singles for Clay Walker and Blake Shelton, formed the duo Joey and Rory that placed third on Can You Duet, and founded Giantslayer Records. |
| Rory Underwood is an English former wing and the all time England record try scorer with 49 in 85 Tests, a Leicester Tigers stalwart who toured with the British and Irish Lions and in 1992 played for England alongside his brother Tony. |
| Rory Hugh Culkin is an American actor known for films like You Can Count on Me, Signs, Scream 4, Columbus, and Lords of Chaos, and for TV roles in Waco, Under the Banner of Heaven, and the Black Mirror episode Beyond the Sea. |
