Rory vs Tom
Rory and Tomcompared 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 Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Rory was ranked #24 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Rory was ranked #33 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Rory was ranked #60 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Rory and Tom over time
Rory and Tom appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Rory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tom 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.
Tom reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Rory 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 Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tom moved into the top 50 at #49 in 2013 as Rory fell out of it to #65, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Tom moved ahead of Rory in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #42 and #58 the year before became #65 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Rory and Tom changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #33 and #60.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Rory and Tom averaged 35.1 places apart, ending at #33 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Rory and Tom were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #60 and #48.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #24 and #757.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1980–2025
Rory held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Tom in 13.
Highest recorded here: Rory #42 in 2012, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order changed in 2013: Tom moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #42 and #58; by 2013 that had become #65 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rory #60, Tom #48.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Rory held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Tom in 11.
Highest recorded here: Rory #24 in 2024, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rory #24, Tom #757.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Rory held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tom in 5.
Highest recorded here: Rory #28 in 2022, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rory #33, Tom #60.
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 | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Red king. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish and Irish Gaelic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɔɹi/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #60 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Rory has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tom.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Rory a "high" Data Confidence level and Tom 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 #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys