Rory vs Theo
Rory and Theocompared 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, Rory was ranked #3 and Theo #4 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Rory was ranked #33 and Theo #5 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Rory was ranked #24 and Theo #12 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Rory was ranked #60 and Theo #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Rory was ranked #85 and Theo #32 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Rory was ranked #1603 and Theo #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Rory and Theo over time
Rory and Theo appear together in 3 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Theo in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 1 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Theo moved into the top 50 at #18 in 2018 as Rory fell out of it to #52, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Theo moved ahead of Rory in England and Wales · Boys — #135 and #142 the year before became #138 and #137.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Rory and Theo averaged 51.1 places apart, ending at #24 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Rory and Theo were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #60 and #21.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Rory #24 in 2024, Theo #9 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1988–2025
Rory held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Theo in 8.
Highest recorded here: Rory #42 in 2012, Theo #13 in 2024.
The order changed in 2018: Theo moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #72 and #73; by 2018 that had become #72 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rory #60, Theo #21.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Rory held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Theo in 23.
Highest recorded here: Rory #24 in 2024, Theo #9 in 2022.
The order changed in 2002: Theo moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #135 and #142; by 2002 that had become #138 and #137.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rory #24, Theo #12.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2024
Rory held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Theo in 9.
Highest recorded here: Rory #28 in 2022, Theo #4 in 2022.
The order changed in 2018: Theo moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #37 and #48; by 2018 that had become #52 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rory #33, Theo #5.
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 | Rory | Theo |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Red king. | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Scottish and Irish Gaelic | Greek, via Theodore/Theodora |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɔɹi/ | /ˈθioʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #60 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #21 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Rory is recorded with a Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin, while Theo is recorded with a Greek, via Theodore/Theodora origin.
- Rory has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Theo.
- Rory's recorded meaning differs from Theo's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Theo
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #637 among boys in Norway in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2001–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2001–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys