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Roary

Boy name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Roary: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2017.

Roary is a modern spelling variant of the classic Irish and Scottish Gaelic name Rory, which itself comes from *Ruaidhrí* meaning "red king" – a name borne by ancient Celtic chieftains. While few famous bearers have used the Roary spelling itself, the traditional Rory form is carried by world-renowned golfer Rory McIlroy and actor Rory Kinnear. The name shares its etymological root with places like Rath Rory in Ireland and the Ruadh River in Scotland, both tied to the "red" element of its meaning. As a further note, Roary has appeared in Scottish birth records since the 1970s, offering parents a fresh, playful twist on a deeply rooted Gaelic favourite without straying far from its heritage.

Boy 1 of 52 years

Peak year
20174 babies
Latest (2017)
#6024 babies
Total births
4since 2017
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2017 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).