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Ruadh

Boy name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ruadh: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 6 births in 2025.

Ruadh is a Gaelic name, deeply rooted in both Irish and Scottish tradition, meaning simply “red” or “red-haired.” In early medieval Ireland, Saint Ruadhán of Lorrha founded the monastery of Lorrha in County Tipperary and is remembered as one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. The legendary warrior Ruadh mac Fhlaithimh also appears in Irish myth, his name a direct nod to his fiery hair. Though less common as a given name today, Ruadh lives on in Scottish place names such as Loch Ruadh in the Highlands, where the water’s rusty tint echoes the name’s meaning. A particularly close variant is Ruairidh, meaning “red king,” which gave rise to the anglicised Rory—a far more widespread name that shares the same ancient root. For parents