Caleb vs Rory
Caleb and Rory compared 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, Caleb was ranked #42 and Rory #3 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #82 and Rory #17 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Rory #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1994, Caleb was ranked #48 and Rory #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Rory over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Caleb and Rory over time
Caleb and Rory appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caleb in 0.
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.
Rory reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Caleb in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Caleb moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2020 as Rory fell out of it to #65, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2020, Caleb moved ahead of Rory in Northern Ireland · Boys — #36 and #32 the year before became #30 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Rory changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #26 and #33.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Caleb and Rory averaged 31.5 places apart, ending at #82 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Rory were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #82 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #72 in 2023, Rory #17 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 34.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Rory in 21.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Rory #17 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #82, Rory #17.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rory in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order changed in 2020: Caleb moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #36 and #32; by 2020 that had become #30 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Rory #33.
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 | Caleb | 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #82 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #17 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Caleb doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Caleb 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
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #82 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls