Find out how popular the first name Ry has been for the last 48 years (from 1975 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ry by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Ry is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ry.

The history of the first name Ry

The name Ry has its origins in the Old Norse language, originating in Scandinavia during the Viking era, around the 8th to 11th centuries AD. It is a shortened form of the Old Norse name Rörik, which was derived from the elements "hræ" meaning "corpse" and "rik" meaning "ruler" or "powerful".

While the name's literal meaning may seem grim, it was likely intended as a metaphorical reference to a powerful leader or warrior. The name Rörik was popular among the Norse and later the Normans, and it evolved into various spellings and forms across different regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ry can be found in the Old English poem Beowulf, which dates back to around the 7th to 10th century AD. In the epic, a character named Hroðgar (sometimes spelled Hroðger or Hrothgar) is mentioned as the king of the Danes.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ry or one of its variations. One example is Rörik Frosti, a legendary Danish king who is said to have lived in the late 6th century AD. Another is Hróarr, a Viking chieftain and one of the founders of Normandy in the 9th century.

In the 11th century, Rörik Slyngebond was a Norwegian nobleman and one of the leaders of the forces that fought against King Olaf the Holy at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. In the 12th century, Rörik Fredkunsson was a Swedish prince and a claimant to the Swedish throne during the Folkung Era.

During the 13th century, Rörik Birgersson was a Swedish nobleman and a member of the powerful House of Bjelbo. He played a significant role in the Swedish-Novgorodian wars and was known for his military prowess.

While the name Ry and its variations have been historically associated with Scandinavian and Norse cultures, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world over time, although its origins can be traced back to the ancient Vikings and their languages.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ry was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ry, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!