Ruaidhri
Boy name · 22 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Ruaidhri: 22 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 1994.
The strikingly Gaelic name Ruaidhri (pronounced roughly 'ROO-ree' or 'RORY') stems from the Old Irish elements *ruad* ('red') and *rí* ('king'), literally 'red king'—a title that may have originally referred to a ruler with red hair or a fiery temperament. Most famously, it belonged to Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion, whose legacy looms large in Irish medieval history. The anglicised form Rory has become widely popular across Scotland, while the original spelling maintains a strong, authentic Gaelic feel. A notable bearer in Scottish history is Ruaidhrí Mac Ruaidhrí (died 1318), a Hebridean chieftain who supported Robert the Bruce. No major places are directly named from this specific name, but the root *rí* appears in many place names from Ireland to Scotland.
Boy 6 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19945 babies
- Latest (2022)
- #5904 babies
- Total births
- 22since 1988
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 10%vs prior 5y