Rory, the Anglicized from of Ruaidhrí, is derived from the Old Irish elements rúad, meaning "red," and rí, meaning "red king" or "red-haired king." The name started gaining popularity in the mid-1900s and showed more progress in the 1980s, but didn't crack the Social Security Administration's top-250 for boy names until 2023. Its popularity today is likely attributed to the rise of golfer Rory McIlroy, who turned pro in 2007 and has won four majors since. Not only that, but actress Annie Starke, the daughter of actress Glenn Close, welcomed a son named Rory Westaway in 2025.
