The story behind Rory
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh and Irish Ruairí (“red-haired king”), from Old Irish Ruaidrí (“red king”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɹɔːɹi/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɹoəɹi/
Popularity
Rory ranked #230 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Rory
Reilly
From Irish Ó Raghallaigh, a surname meaning "descendants of Raghallach".
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Barry
Anglicized form of Irish Bairre, short form of Fionnbharr, from fionn (“white”) + barr (“head”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Conley
Anglicization of Irish Ó Conghalaigh and Ó Conghaile, patronyms of Conghalach. Doublet of Connolly
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Derry
From Irish Doire, from doire (“oak grove”), from Old Irish daire (“oak forest”), from Proto-Celtic *daru.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Murphy
From Irish Ó Murchadha (“descendant of Murrough”), Mac Murchaidh (“Son of Murrough”), etc. See Muircath.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ramsey
From Old English hramsa (“wild garlic”) + īeġ (“island”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Rory
Ai
From Japanese あい (Ai).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Rory
Ava
A female given name from Hebrew, a variant of Eva.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Colm
From Irish Colm, from Late Latin Columba (literally “dove”), the name of a sixth century saint, one of the patron saints of Ireland and Scotland. Doublet of Calum. From Middle…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends M
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Dara
An Irish saint's name, from Irish Dáire. From Persian دارا (dārā), equivalent to Darius.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection