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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rory for a girl

157 replies

MissMoodyMoo · 07/05/2023 14:45

So what are peoples opinions on Rory for a girl? I really like it. We are struggling to agree on a girls name. My husband likes Ivy, Daisy, Lily and fern but think they are too cutesy and I want a strong but pretty name

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mathanxiety · 09/05/2023 18:08
  • cultures (pl) from which....

It's a name from both Scottish and Irish culture. Using it for a girl shows a certain blithe ignorance of those cultures.

mathanxiety · 09/05/2023 18:00

It's disrespectful to the culture from which the name comes.

It means red-haired king in Irish.

TheBirdintheCave · 09/05/2023 16:30

CurlewKate · 09/05/2023 13:51

@TheBirdintheCave -I'm sorry- have you on this thread?🫢

Yup further down the chain :)

Hersetta427 · 09/05/2023 14:02

I think its a little sad that you think the only way to give your girl a strong name is to choose something that is overtly male.

If you want to go down that route though how about Alex(andra). Much nicer.

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 14:01

Stacey was/is a surname and Shannon is a river

Irritateandunreasonable · 09/05/2023 13:57

No.

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 13:55

Startwithamimosa · 08/05/2023 02:42

I like it. If boys can be Stacey, Ashley, Lee, Shannon, Kim ... why can't a girl be Rory. As long as you're OK with people assuming she's going to be a boy, then go for it

Those names didn't start out as girl's names.
I know more male Ashleys, Lees and Kims than female ones.

ididntknowthat11 · 09/05/2023 13:54

Jux · 09/05/2023 13:44

What if she has an intractable lisp? What's your name? Worwy.

That's not a lisp.

But either way, it's very limiting to d discard any and all names with an R or an S (lisp) just in case your child can't say those letters.

ididntknowthat11 · 09/05/2023 13:53

ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 21:58

I'll bet the comments would be completely different if Rory was suggested for a boy.

I doubt anyone would be declaring they "love it!"
😂

I'm not sure what this means?

There are quite a few threads on here talking about Rory for a boys name and it often has people saying they love it.

I like it very much. I think it has had a bit of a surge in popularity in England in recent years, but it has always been a fairly consistently solid name in Scotland (my husband has an uncle Rory and a great uncle Rory).

Very much like it as a boys name....no, not keen for a girl.

CurlewKate · 09/05/2023 13:53

"What if she has an intractable lisp? What's your name? Worwy."
FYI that's not a lisp! And it would, to be fair, also apply to Rose.

CurlewKate · 09/05/2023 13:51

@TheBirdintheCave -I'm sorry- have you on this thread?🫢

Jux · 09/05/2023 13:44

What if she has an intractable lisp? What's your name? Worwy.

TheBirdintheCave · 09/05/2023 13:42

@CurlewKate Feel like I've done so multiple times now (on various threads) 😂 Few people listen though.

CurlewKate · 09/05/2023 13:26

Has anyone addressed the uncomfortable fact that we're prepared to give girls boy's names because, presumably "strong and edgy" but not prepared to give boys girl's names because.......?

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 12:54

@ExpatInSlavikLand , It makes me think of rugby players like Rory Underwood.

ExpatInSlavikLand · 09/05/2023 12:51

No. Give her the choice to go by her own nickname. Rory is either for a boy or it's a nickname.

CremeEggThief · 09/05/2023 12:41

Only as a nickname! It's a very masculine sounding name, to my mind anyway!

I do like Aurora though.

barca123 · 09/05/2023 12:36

ReadersD1gest · 08/05/2023 21:58

I'll bet the comments would be completely different if Rory was suggested for a boy.

I doubt anyone would be declaring they "love it!"
😂

I love it for a boy also

barca123 · 09/05/2023 12:35

katemulberrybush · 08/05/2023 21:10

It's awful. For a boy or girl

Be kind

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 12:02

In the book I liked it was short for Rhodry. I've looked up the inspiration and its listed as Celtic.
Shortening Rhodri (misspelt as Rhodry), to Rory seems bizarre. It's not shorter and most of the consonants are different.

Gall10 · 09/05/2023 11:59

Speaking from personal point of view….I’d never call my offspring Rory in case they grow up with inability to pronounce the letter R…imagine them going through life telling people they’re called Wowy…or being teased incessantly.
As I say …personal experience… speech therapy doesn’t always work..I know!!

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 11:52

Rhodri not Rhodry. Rhodri isn't 'ROD-ree' btw, RH is a single letter and has a sound you don't get in English.

Completely different name, but Rory is sometimes used as a short form of Roderick (Bremner, Stewart)

LivingDeadGirlUK · 09/05/2023 11:39

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 10:04

@LivingDeadGirlUK, it's definitely not Welsh.
There are similarities between Welsh and Gaelic, but the languages are cousins not sisters.
Rory is the anglicised form of Ruairí/Ruaidhrí and Ruairidh
The Welsh name Rhodri also means king

Thanks for that, as you can see I wasn't sure so didn't feel confident using it! In the book I liked it was short for Rhodry. I've looked up the inspiration and its listed as Celtic.

I still don't think I would use it as a girls name though.

KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 11:24

I think Billie and Stevie are ok because they are associated with Billie Holiday and Stevie Nicks. A boy Beyonce might be a bit too unusual.
Ms Holiday was really an Eleanora and Ms Nicks is Stephanie

QuintanaRoo · 09/05/2023 11:16

I know a lady called Stevie and it’s not short for anything. I also know another lady called Timmie and that’s not short for anything.

Rory for a girl sounds fine to me but I did watch the Gilmore Girls. 😁