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Baby names

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

Original poster

Rory, Ruari or Ruairi

31 replies

BertieBeatle · 08/03/2016 14:54

Hi all,

After MUCH debate dh and I have decided on this name for our little boy.
Dh is Irish and much prefers the spelling and pronunciation of Ruairi.
I love the name and am more than happy to choose it but I'm worried about making his life difficult as we currently live in the UK and plan to stay for the foreseeable future.
We are considering the spelling Ruari which is more phonetic and apparently also a recognised spelling.
What's everyone's views? Will Ruairi cause issues in the UK? How would you spell it?
Or do you think we should just go with Rory?
Especially interested to hear from people who have chosen Irish names with slightly challenging spellings for their children and whether or not you regret it!

Thanks!

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MitzyLeFrouf · 08/03/2016 15:11

Whatever you do don't go with Ruari. It's wrong. Some British people will still be foxed by it and Irish people will tell you it's spelt incorrectly. So it seems a bit pointless.

Personally I prefer the spelling and pronunciation of Rory. The roo-a-ree sound isn't as nice as roar-y. In my opinion anyway.

Diggum · 08/03/2016 15:17

I like the Irish spelling, Ruairi.

I have a very unpronounceable looking Irish name and lived in UK till I was 7 without any issues. People learn to pronounce all kinds of unfamiliar names (Polish, Ukrainian, Islamic) in Ireland and the U.K. I think it's nice to reflect a child's heritage and people are always polite (in my experience) and ask or will be happily corrected.

I've had no issues except if I'm booking a restaurant (even in Ireland) when I just spell it phonetically!

Maryz · 08/03/2016 15:21

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsCharlesBrandon · 08/03/2016 15:21

I'm currently living with a 12 year old who curses me for giving her a name that should be easy to spell but isn't. We've had countless variations on invitations over the years!

I like Ruairi, but please consider the fact that both you and your son will be spelling it out to people for the rest of their life. If you're living in the UK then maybe Rory is the way to go.

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 08/03/2016 16:38

I think my issue with Rory is I've known quite a few adults Rory's over the years and I tend to associate the name with them.

Thanks for the tip about Ruari. I will strike that one off the list then. Ruairi or Rory it is!

In terms of pronunciation, I would pronounce it similar to Rure-y rather than Roar-y. Is that right? I know my pronouncation won't be identical to the Irish pronunciation but that doesn't completely put me off as there isn't a name in the world that sounds identical when said by me and dh, but hearing him say Ruairi is lovely.
My concern is mainly round whether he will resent me choosing a difficult name and how frustrating it could get constantly spelling it. It's really hard to know. Thanks for the comments so far, very helpful.

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Nospringflower · 08/03/2016 16:59

I'm in Scotland. Prefer the sound of ruooree to roary. Here quite a few people spell it Ruaridh. Not sure how helpful any of that is!

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 08/03/2016 17:01

My DH did mention the spelling Ruairidh (or something like that) to start with and I said no. He then offered Ruairi as a compromise which I think was a tactic Grin

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AngelsWithFilthySouls · 08/03/2016 17:03

I'm in Scotland and had a Rory and a Ruairidh in my class at school. You quickly learn the spelling and I had more issues with my fairly common name as there's about 8 spellings of it! Personally, I prefer the sound of Rory but both are lovely.

harrietm87 · 08/03/2016 20:22

The alternative Irish spelling is Ruaidhri. In parts of the south of Ireland it is pronounced like Rory, but in other parts of Ireland it's more like ruu-ary, so I think you could spell it ruairi or Ruaidhri and pronounce it Rory if you like.

coffeeinaredmug · 08/03/2016 20:32

Rory and Ruairidh are pronounced differently. Ruairidh is my favourite.

Inthesleeplessnightgarden · 08/03/2016 20:41

I have a Ruairidh and, while we get a few muddled up Ds and Hs from those who don't know him well, most people spell his name right - and if they guess then I have no problem with that. He is definitely a Ruairidh ( to rhyme more or less with fury) and not a Rory ( to rhyme with story). We're Scottish but not living in Scotland. Having a name which is common but with several spelling variations ( think Isabel, Isobel, Isabelle etc) I'm used to spelling my not unusual name out every time I'm asked for it on the phone etc so I can't see it being too different for him. I'd go with either a proper Irish spelling or a simple Rory depending on which pronunciation you prefer but don't go for something in between.

Tomfunsnumber1trolley · 08/03/2016 20:56

I have a Ruairi, DH is also Irish and we live in the UK. We have a few issues with spellings and a few people (friends and family members) who sang seem to grasp it's pronounced roo ree as opposed to Rory but other than that it's not really caused any problems. I think it's a fab name and I say go for it!

Maryz · 08/03/2016 21:10

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 08/03/2016 21:12

Tomfun - do you pronounce it like rure-y to rhyme with fury as a PP said, or Roo-ry to rhyme with Moo or shoe?
Good to hear you have a Ruairi and are happy with his name Smile. Did you get any negative/confused comments from people when you announced it?
Dh is still set on Ruairi!

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Tomfunsnumber1trolley · 08/03/2016 21:18

I guess we pronounce it more like the first although my flat West Midlands vowels perhaps lean towards the second. Not had any negative comments (not too my face anyway!), he's attended two different nurseries and they've always managed to pronounce it! He tends to get called Roo as a nickname and if he gets called Rory he is very keen to correct the pronunciation!

Maryz · 08/03/2016 21:24

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tomfunsnumber1trolley · 08/03/2016 21:27

Yeah I guess it is a bit more like Maryz pronunciation, I guess my English accent doesn't quite capture it!

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 08/03/2016 21:33

Maryz - that's more how my dh says it. I struggle with it Blush I think the way I say it still sounds ok though - I hope anyway Smile.
glad to hear lots of positive comments on both names. Dh has reddish hair so if he is born with red hair it will be even more fitting!
Tom - I love the nn Roo! That's one of the reasons I love the name.

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DramaAlpaca · 08/03/2016 21:47

I have a Rory nn Roo Smile

I am English & DH is Irish. We were living in England when he was born though have since moved to Ireland.

We considered both Ruairi and Rory but decided to go with Rory because of the possible pronunciation issues - we wanted to make sure the English side of the family would get it right.

It's lovely, whichever you decide.

CaveMum · 09/03/2016 12:13

I know a Ruairidh (2 years old). Everyone knows him as Roo.

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 09/03/2016 16:53

Where do you live cavemum?

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CaveMum · 09/03/2016 18:01

Cambridgeshire! His mum is Scottish.

Esrom · 19/11/2025 14:01

I have a Rory, with a strong Irish background I wanted the Gaelic spelling, by here in Australia it would have been a nightmare. I have another son, Lloyd, and we had problems all through his childhood with incorrect spelling.

ThreshAcre · 19/11/2025 15:28

ZOMBIE THREAD @Esrom , why did you wait nearly 10 years to post?

Original poster
BertieBeatle · 19/11/2025 16:42

Oh my goodness! This was my thread 9 years ago. If anyone is interested in an update, my first child 'Rory' is now 9.5 years old. He has a best friend called Ruaridh 😁
I also have two more sons with Irish names.

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