Rory is a male given name of Gaelic origin. It is an anglicization of the Irish: Ruairí and Scottish Gaelic: Ruairidh, and is common to the Irish, Highland Scots and their diasporas. The meaning of the name is "red king," from ruadh ("red-haired" or "ruddy") and rígh ("king").
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). 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 the famous King of Laois, Ruairí Óg Ó Mórdha and his nephew Ruairí Ó Mórdha who was a leader in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, held the name.
Since the 1960s in the United States, the name has occasionally been given to females, notably to Rory Kennedy (b. 1968), daughter of Robert F. Kennedy.
The standard Gaelic pronunciation is /'ruərʲi:/, and in Munster Irish /rəi'rʲi:/. In English, it is typically pronounced as Raw-ry (/rɔːri/) or Roo-ry (/ru:ri/). In Classical Gaelic, the name was written Ruaidhrigh, and in Old Gaelic Ruaidhrí /ruaðʲr͈ʲiː/ (Proto Celtic *roudo-riks). There are numerous other recorded variations of the name such as Ruaidrí, Ruaidhri, Ruairdhri, Rhuairidh, Ruaridh, Rhuaridh, Ruarídh, Ruari, Roighrí, Rauridh or Raighrí. Historically, it has also been anglicised by replacement with the Germanic cognate Roderick, of similar meaning (red leader) and in some cases the etymologically unrelated Roger and Ray. Its equivalent in the Welsh language is Rhodri, also meaning red king.
Ruaidrí mac Fáeláin (died 785), King of Leinster of the Uí Fáeláin sept of the Uí Dúnlainge branch of the LaiginRuaidrí ua Canannáin (died 950), king of the Cenél Conaill, and according to some sources High King of IrelandRuaidrí na Saide Buide (died 1118), called Ruaidrí na Saide Buide (Ruaidrí of the Yellow Birch), King of ConnachtRuaidrí Ua Conchobair, 12th century King of Connacht and the last High King of IrelandRuaidri mac Cathal Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht in IrelandRuaidri mac Tairdelbach Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, died 1384Ruaidri Caech mac Diarmata (1404–1421), see Kings of Magh LuirgRuaidrí mac Donnchad Ó Dálaigh (died 1469), Irish musicianRuaidri Óg mac Diarmata (1478–1486), see Kings of Magh LuirgRuaidri mac Diarmata (1549–1568), see Kings of Magh LuirgRuaidhrí mac Raghnaill (died 1247?), Hebridean magnateRuaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí (died 1318?), Scottish magnateRuaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh (1629–1716/18), Irish historianRuairí Mac Easmainn (1864–1916), Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and nationalistRuairí Brugha (1917–2006), Clann na Poblachta politicianRuairí Ó Brádaigh (1932–2013), Irish Republican Army memberRuairi Quinn (born 1946), Irish Labour Party politicianRuairí Robinson (born 1978), Academy Award-nominated Irish film director and writerRuairí McKiernan (born 1977), Irish social activistRuairidh Erskine (1869–1960), Scottish nationalistRuaridh Jackson (born 1988), Glasgow Warriors out halfRory Anderson (born 1992), American football playerRory Barnes (born 1946), Australian writerRory Best (born 1982), Irish rugby union footballerRory Boulding (born 1988), English footballerRory Brady (1957–2010), Irish lawyerRory Bremner (born 1961), Scottish comedianRory Brennan (born 1945), Irish poetRory Brien (born 1991), rugby league footballerRory Burns (born 1990), English cricketerRory Byrne (born 1944), South African racing car designerRory Calhoun (1922–1999), American actorRory Carroll (born 1972), Irish journalistRory Cellan-Jones (born 1958), British journalistRory Cochrane (born 1972), American actorRory Collins (born 1955), epidemiologistRory Enrique Conde (born 1965), Colombian serial killerRory Culkin (born 1989), American actorRory Delap (born 1976), Irish football playerRory Dodd, Canadian rock vocalistRory Fallon (born 1982), New Zealand football playerRory Fitzpatrick (born 1975), American ice hockey playerRory Gallagher (1948–1995), Irish musicianRory Hamilton-Brown (born 1987), English cricketerRory Jacob (born 1983), Irish hurlerRory Jennings (born 1983), British actorRory Johnson (born 1986), American football playerRory Jones (born 1955), South African football playerRory Kiely (born 1934), Irish politicianRory Kinnear (born 1978), English actorRory Kockott (born 1986), South African rugby player representing France internationallyRory Lamont (born 1982), Scottish rugby playerRory Lawson (born 1981), Scottish international rugby union playerRory Lee Feek (born 1966), American country music singer and songwriterRory Leidelmeyer, American bodybuilderRory Loy (born 1988), Scottish footballerRory Macdonald (conductor) (born 1980), Scottish conductorRory MacDonald (fighter) (born 1989), Canadian professional mixed martial artistRory Macdonald (musician) (born 1949), Scottish bassistRory MacGregor (born 1976), British actorRory MacLean (born 1954), Canadian writerRory Markas (1955–2010), American sportscasterRory Markham (born 1982), American mixed martial artistRory McCann (born 1969), Scottish actorRory McEwen (politician) (born 1948), Australian politicianRory McEwen (artist) (1932–1982), Scottish artist and musicianRory McGrath (born 1956), English comedianRory McIlroy (born 1989), Northern Irish golferRory McLeod (singer-songwriter) (born 1957), English singer-songwriterRory McLeod (snooker player) (born 1971), English professional snooker playerRory O'Connor (Irish republican) (1883–1922), Irish republican activistRory O'Hanlon (born 1934), Irish politicianRory O'Malley (born 1980), Broadway actorRory (Roger) O'Moore (1620–1655), Irish rebelRory O'Tunny (c. 1541–1542), Irish sculptorRory Peck (1956–1993), British journalistRory Reid (born 1963), American politicianRory Sabbatini (born 1976), South African golferRory Schlein (born 1984), Australian speedway riderRory Singer (born 1976), American mixed martial artistRory Sparrow (born 1958), American basketball playerRory Smith (born 1987), Canadian lacrosse playerRory Steele (born 1943), Australian authorRory Stewart (born 1973), Scottish writerRory Storm (1938–1972), English musicianRory Sutherland (born 1982), Australian racing cyclistRory Underwood (born 1963), English rugby playerAurora 'Rory' Block (born 1949), American blues guitarist and singer. Rory here is short for "Aurora".Rory Flack (born 1971), American figure skater. Born Ellen Flack, "Rory" is a nickname.Rory Kennedy (born 1968), American filmmakerRory Quintos (born 1962), Filipino television and film directorRory in the film/television series My Babysitter's a VampireRory Breaker in the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking BarrelsRory Campbell in the Marvel Comics UniverseRory Finnigan in the television series HollyoaksRory Flanagan in the television series GleeRory Hennessy in the television series 8 Simple RulesRory Jansen in the movie The WordsRory Murdoch in the television series River CityRory O'Shea in the movie Inside I'm DancingRory Peters in the movie Final Destination 2Rory Regan, Ragman in the DC Comics UniverseRory Slippery in the television series FortysomethingRory Williams in the television series Doctor WhoRory Walker in the movie The ConjuringRory Browne in the books of the saga of Agnes Browne (The Mammy, The Chisellers, The Granny and The Young Wan) by Brendan O'CarrollLorelai "Rory" Gilmore in the television series Gilmore GirlsRory Mercury in the anime and light novel series Gate and voiced by Risa Taneda