Bobby vs Rory
Bobby 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #246 and Rory #3 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #82 and Rory #24 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bobby was ranked #30 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #78 and Rory #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #3015 and Rory #1603 among girls in England and Wales.
Bobby and Rory over time
Bobby and Rory appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Bobby in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2013, Bobby moved ahead of Rory in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #63 and #42 the year before became #59 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bobby and Rory changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1998 and 2024, ending at #78 and #33.
- Longest-running competitions
Bobby and Rory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #30 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bobby #3015 in 2024, Rory #1452 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1980–2025
Bobby held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rory in 28.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #27 in 2020, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order changed in 2013: Bobby moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #63 and #42; by 2013 that had become #59 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bobby #30, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bobby held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rory in 17.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #57 in 2012, Rory #24 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bobby #82, Rory #24.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1998–2024
Bobby held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rory in 23.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #59 in 2013, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bobby #78, Rory #33.
England and Wales · Girls11 shared years, 2010–2024
Bobby held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rory in 7.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #3015 in 2024, Rory #1452 in 2022.
The order changed in 2020: Rory moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #3151 and #4001; by 2020 that had become #3447 and #1939.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bobby #3015, Rory #1603.
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 | Bobby | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɔɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #30 (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); Bobby does not have one recorded yet.
- Bobby and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Bobby doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bobby 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
Bobby
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 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