Barry vs Rory
Barry and Rorycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Rory #24 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Rory #28 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Barry and Rory over time
Barry and Rory appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barry in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Rory in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Rory moved ahead of Barry in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #77 and #81 the year before became #76 and #74.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Rory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #60.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #69 and #73 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #60.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Rory in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order changed in 1997: Rory moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #77 and #81; by 1997 that had become #76 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Rory #24 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Rory #24.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Rory #28.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Barry | Rory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Red king. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish and Irish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɔɹi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #60 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Barry a "medium" Data Confidence level and Rory a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Rory
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2024–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Scotland, in 2024 (recorded 2024–2024).
Scotland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys