Rory vs Tilly-May
Rory and Tilly-Maycompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Rory was ranked #1271 and Tilly-May #5927 among girls in England and Wales.
Rory and Tilly-May over time
Rory and Tilly-May appear together in 1 published list, across 13 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Tilly-May 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.
Tilly-May reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 2010–2025
Rory held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tilly-May in 5.
Highest recorded here: Rory #1271 in 2025, Tilly-May #1220 in 2013.
The order changed in 2020: Rory moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #4001 and #2643; by 2020 that had become #1939 and #5493.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rory #1271, Tilly-May #5927.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Rory
Pairs where Rory shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rory vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #3256.
Rory · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Tom
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #976.
Rory · Tom · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #73 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #60 and #829.
Rory · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #606.
Rory · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Rory | Tilly-May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | Red king. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish and Irish Gaelic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɔɹi/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ruairidh, Ruaidhrí, Rorie, Ruaidhrí | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #17 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5927 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Tilly-May does not have one recorded yet.
- Rory has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Tilly-May.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Tilly-May doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
- The available evidence gives Rory a "high" Data Confidence level and Tilly-May a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Tilly-May
Popularity journey
First recorded2003
First recorded at #3594 among girls in England and Wales in 2003 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2003–2025
Highest recorded position: #1220 among girls in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 2003–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls