Rory vs Yi
Rory and Yicompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Rory was ranked #24 and Yi #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Rory was ranked #74 and Yi #601 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Rory was ranked #1452 and Yi #4645 among girls in England and Wales.
Rory and Yi over time
Rory and Yi appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Yi reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Rory rose about as far as Yi fell — from #105 and #2943 in 1999 to #24 and #5119 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys23 shared years, 1999–2024
Rory held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Yi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rory #24 in 2024, Yi #1201 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rory #24, Yi #5119.
England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 2010–2022
Rory held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Yi in 5.
Highest recorded here: Rory #1452 in 2022, Yi #1489 in 2011.
The order changed in 2020: Rory moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #4001 and #3541; by 2020 that had become #1939 and #3447.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Rory #1452, Yi #4645.
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 | Yi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #60 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #5119 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Rory has a recorded origin (Scottish and Irish Gaelic); Yi does not have one recorded yet.
- Rory has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Yi.
- A meaning is recorded for Rory; Yi doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Rory a "high" Data Confidence level and Yi 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
Yi
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2683 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2005–2016
Highest recorded position: #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 2005–2016).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys