Rorry
Red or reddish-colored; masculine diminutive form of the Gaelic name Rory.
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Rorry. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rorry today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rorry births was 1966 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rorry. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rorry. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1966
6 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
2014 SSA rank
#13,665
Tracked since 1965
Popularity
Rorry: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rorry from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 11 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1960s peak, Rorry remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rorry by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rorry during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rorry
The name Rorry has its origins rooted in ancient Celtic culture, specifically from the Gaelic language spoken in Ireland and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "rothair," which translates to "skilled traveler" or "one who journeys with purpose." This name's earliest roots can be traced back to the 5th century AD, during the height of the Celtic kingdoms in the British Isles.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rorry can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It mentions a Rorry mac Áedáin, a prominent warrior and chieftain from the Kingdom of Dál Riata, who lived during the late 6th century AD. This historical figure is said to have led his clan in numerous battles against rival kingdoms, earning him a reputation for bravery and strategic prowess.
During the Middle Ages, the name Rorry gained popularity among the noble classes of Ireland and Scotland. One notable figure was Rorry O'Connor, a 12th-century King of Connacht, a powerful Irish kingdom. He played a pivotal role in the struggle against the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, leading his forces in several significant battles before ultimately being forced to abdicate in 1186.
In the 14th century, a Scottish knight named Rorry MacLeod gained fame for his exploits during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. He fought alongside legendary figures like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, earning a place in Scottish folklore for his courage and loyalty to the cause of Scottish freedom.
Another notable bearer of the name was Rorry O'Flaherty, an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Flaherty clan in the 16th century. He was known for his unwavering resistance against English colonization efforts in Connacht, leading his clan in numerous battles to defend their ancestral lands and way of life.
In more recent times, the name Rorry has been less common, but a few notable individuals have carried it forward. Rorry Gallagher was an Irish artist and sculptor active in the early 20th century, renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and portraiture. Additionally, Rorry Fitzpatrick was a celebrated Irish poet and author who published several collections of poetry in the latter half of the 20th century, capturing the essence of Irish culture and identity through his works.
People
Rorry + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rorry as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rorry: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rorry?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rorry going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Rorry a common name?
We classify Rorry as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 21 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rorry most popular?
The single biggest year for Rorry was 1966, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rorry is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rorry a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rorry in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.