Ruairi

Ruairi is a traditional Irish masculine name with ancient Celtic roots. Derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Ruaidhrí', it combines 'ruadh' meaning 'red' and 'rí' meaning 'king', thus translating to 'red king' or 'red-haired king'. Historically, it was borne by several High Kings of Ireland, including Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King before the Norman invasion. The name has various anglicized spellings including Rory, Ruairi, Ruairidh, and Ruairí. While traditionally popular in Ireland and Scotland, it has gained international recognition in recent decades as interest in Celtic names has grown. Ruairi represents a connection to Irish heritage and carries connotations of leadership and nobility.

Ruairi is also given to girls, where it ranks #14595 in the US.

Pronounced ROO-uh-ree.

As of October 2026, Ruairi ranked #5570 for boys and #14595 for girls in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #4817 for boys in 2022.