Jesse vs Rory
Jesse 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, Jesse was ranked #290 and Rory #3 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Rory #24 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1994, Jesse was ranked #28 and Rory #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Rory #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Rory #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #4843 and Rory #1603 among girls in England and Wales.
Jesse and Rory over time
Jesse and Rory appear together in 4 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jesse 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.
Rory reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Jesse 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Rory changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 2010 and 2024, ending at #4843 and #1603.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Rory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #141 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jesse #54 in 2024, Rory #24 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 42.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Rory #42 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Rory #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Rory #24 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Rory #24.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rory in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Rory #28 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Rory #33.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2010–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Rory in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #1489 in 2011, Rory #1452 in 2022.
The order changed in 2022: Rory moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #2073 and #2201; by 2022 that had become #3148 and #1452.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #4843, 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 | Jesse | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (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); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse and Rory both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Jesse 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 Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 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