Ruairi

boyIrish

Ruairi is an boy name of Irish origin, meaning “Red king”.

MeaningRed king
GenderBoy
OriginIrish
PronunciationROOR-ee
TraditionModern & Classic
Used inIreland, Northern Ireland, Scotland

Meaning and origin of Ruairi

Ruairi, also Ruairí or Ruaidhrí, comes from ruadh 'red' and rí 'king'. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was the last High King of Ireland before the Norman invasion. The name has long been anglicised as Rory, which is now popular throughout the English-speaking world. In Scotland the form Ruaraidh is used.

Is Ruairi a religious name?

Ruairí is a royal Irish name with no religious meaning.

How popular is Ruairi?

Used in Ireland; Rory is far more widespread internationally.

Gifts with the name Ruairi

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Spellings and variants of Ruairi

RoryRuaidhríRuaraidhRuari

Names similar to Ruairi

More boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Ruairi mean?

Ruairi means 'Red king'. It is of Irish origin.

Does Ruairi have a religious meaning?

Ruairí is a royal Irish name with no religious meaning.

How do you pronounce Ruairi?

Ruairi is pronounced ROOR-ee.

Is Ruairi a boy or girl name?

Ruairi is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.