Ruairí
Say it: ROOR-ee/ˈɾˠuəɾʲiː/
BoyIrishMeans usually explained as "red king"6 letters2 syllables
#67
in Ireland (2025)
#69 with spellings combined
85
babies in 2025
#69
best rank (2025)
2,765
babies since 1966
Up 29
10-year rank change
Ruairí through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 85 | #69 |
| 2024 | 57 | #102 |
| 2023 | 64 | #94 |
| 2022 | 45 | #133 |
| 2021 | 54 | #119 |
| 2020 | 82 | #80 |
| 2019 | 84 | #82 |
| 2018 | 63 | #105 |
| 2017 | 77 | #96 |
| 2016 | 54 | #123 |
| 2015 | 73 | #98 |
| 2014 | 84 | #93 |
| 2013 | 81 | #92 |
| 2012 | 99 | #81 |
| 2011 | 86 | #94 |
| 2010 | 91 | #88 |
| 2009 | 93 | #88 |
| 2008 | 93 | #86 |
| 2007 | 74 | #97 |
| 2006 | 78 | #84 |
| 2005 | 68 | #93 |
| 2004 | 57 | #104 |
| 2003 | 59 | #92 |
| 2002 | 49 | #101 |
| 2001 | 45 | #107 |
| 2000 | 47 | #103 |
| 1999 | 37 | #116 |
| 1998 | 33 | #117 |
| 1997 | 32 | #133 |
| 1996 | 42 | #118 |
| 1995 | 38 | #122 |
| 1994 | 29 | #133 |
| 1993 | 28 | #135 |
| 1992 | 34 | #129 |
| 1991 | 29 | #138 |
| 1990 | 37 | #117 |
| 1989 | 27 | #136 |
| 1988 | 13 | #175 |
| 1987 | 39 | #119 |
| 1986 | 32 | #128 |
| 1985 | 25 | #142 |
| 1984 | 25 | #141 |
| 1983 | 46 | #111 |
| 1982 | 45 | #112 |
| 1981 | 46 | #114 |
| 1980 | 34 | #125 |
| 1979 | 40 | #120 |
| 1978 | 45 | #114 |
| 1977 | 46 | #111 |
| 1976 | 30 | #131 |
| 1975 | 27 | #131 |
| 1974 | 16 | #173 |
| 1973 | 9 | #215 |
| 1972 | 5 | #254 |
| 1971 | 12 | #184 |
| 1970 | 3 | #305 |
| 1969 | 10 | #187 |
| 1968 | 3 | #267 |
| 1967 | 3 | #265 |
| 1966 | 3 | #256 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Ruairí mean?
Usually explained as "red king"
Irish, from the Old Irish name Ruaidrí; the source of the English Rory.
Say it right
ROORee
Ruairí with a fada is the standard modern spelling. The older form Ruaidhrí is still seen.
Not:ROO-air-ee
The story of Ruairí
Ruairí is the Irish name behind the English Rory. It comes from the Old Irish Ruaidrí, usually explained as “red king”, from words for red and king. The same name is Ruairidh in Scottish Gaelic and Ruaree in Manx. The older Irish spelling Ruaidhrí has given way to the simpler Ruairí in modern standard Irish.
The best-known bearer is Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, remembered as the last High King of Ireland before the Normans arrived in the twelfth century.
In Ireland the name first reached the list in 1966 and has grown slowly since. The CSO did not record fadas before 2018, so older figures combine Ruairi and Ruairí. The most boys were given it in 2012, when there were 99, but its best rank came in 2025, at number 69 counting both spellings. It is even more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was 38th in 2025, its highest place there.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Ruairí (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Rory
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Ruairí | 85 | 520 |
| Ruairi | under 3 | 2,245 |
In Northern Ireland
#38 in 2025 with 50 babies. Best rank #38 (2025); 1,198 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.