One of my favorite categories of names is the feminine appellation with a tomboy short form – Charlie for Charlotte, or Davy for Davina. But those are obvious pairings, the kind that have been worn by women for generations. It is also possible to take a traditionally masculine name and pair it with an unrelated feminine form that just happens to share some sounds.
So today, we’re using unrelated girls’ names to get to the nickname Rory.
Rory is, of course, a masculine moniker, an Irish heritage choice worn by a twelfth century king and given to boys at a steady pace for centuries. But Rory isn’t unknown for girls. Errol Flynn gave the name to a daughter back in 1947. And she’s surfaced in the girls’ Top 1000 a few times in recent years.
If you like the idea of calling your daughter Rory, but want a more traditional name for her birth certificate, here are some options.
Lorelei, Loralei – The name that started it all. The Gilmore Girls ran on the WB and the CW for seven seasons, chronicling the lives of two Lorelais, mom and daughter. Mom answered to Loralei; daughter to the nickname Rory. We later learned that the older Loralei had been named after her grandmother – known as Trix. It’s a frilly German name from legend, and a thoroughly pretty one, too. Rory makes her far more rough and tumble.
Aurora – Disney’s name for Sleeping Beauty, and one of the more popular ways to get to Rory. The recent tragedy in Colorado, however, will probably lead many parents to drop her from consideration.
Marjorie – She’s your great aunt, or maybe the mom from The Simpsons, a fusty throwback of a name. And yet the medieval form of Margaret has the same vintage appeal as Ruby or Alice. Margery has the same sound, but the -or spelling – likely influenced by the herb marjoram – opens the door to Rory.
Coralie, Corinthia, Coraline, Corinne – The Cora names are a tempting way to get to Rory, especially now that Cory sounds like a relic of the 80s.
Dorothy – File her with Marjorie. Rory is a more energetic short form than Dolly or Dot. Dorothy Gale went somewhere over the rainbow; a Dorothy called Rory would surely have equally intriguing adventures.
Florence – If the Coras can get you to Rory, so can the Floras. Florence called Rory is just as surprising as Marjorie or Dorothy called Rory, but perhaps there’s even a greater degree of dissonance using an Irish short form for a name shared with an Italian city. On the other hand, Florence could use a good nickname. Flossie and Florrie are cute, but possibly too cute, and Flo only works on Geico commercials.
Rosemary, Rosemarie – It seems like some of the Rose names should belong here, and yet most of them are missing a second -r sound. Rosalie and Rosanna don’t quite work. But how ’bout Rosemary? If she contracts to Romy, why not Rory, too? Rosario is another one that could work beautifully.
Roberta – I’ve long thought that a boy named Robert could answer to Rory, so why not a girl named Roberta? It’s not as conventional as Rob or Bobbie, but the sounds are definitely there.
Would you ever consider Rory for a girl? If so, would you use a longer form? And are there any possibilities that I’ve missed?
Danielle says
March 11, 2017 at 8:58 PMI like the nn Rory for a girl and wanted to find a name it could be shortened from…I was wondering if Lenore/Lenora would work..?
Tonya says
January 1, 2017 at 5:41 PMMy daughter’s name is Rory Lynn, and my husband and I love her name as does everyone else we meet. We always get compliments on it. She is 5, very girly, but rough and tough. It suits her perfect. To each their own. I don’t think it is any different in people naming their little girl Charlie, Hayden, Noah, etc…
Terry says
September 13, 2016 at 10:57 AMI named my daughter Rori Kathleen Flynn… Rori is perfect for her..
Karen Elizabeth says
August 10, 2016 at 10:38 AMI would go with Rorie for a girl – I think the -ie gives it a feminine touch. And no need for a nick name. And then give a truly feminine middle name so she is not completely “unisex”.
Jennifer says
September 26, 2015 at 9:05 PMMy daughter’s name is Victoria but we call her Rory.
Lyr says
September 28, 2012 at 9:54 PMI use to know a girl named Rory, and it wasn’t until later that I found out her name was actually Tzipporah.
Panya says
September 1, 2012 at 11:01 AMSome not mentioned: Amideror, Amiderora, Amidror, Amidrora, Aurore, Deror, Derora, Derori, Deroria, Derorit, Deroriya, Dror, Drora, Drori, Droria, Drorit, Droriya, Leederor, Leederora, Leedror, Leedrora, Lideror, Liderora, Lidror, Lidrora, Magenderora, Magendrora, Serora, Tserora, Tzerora, Zerora
Hugz says
August 13, 2012 at 5:46 PMI could not convince my husband that Aurora (NN Rory) would be a perfect name for our first born daughter. I love the astral connection and the disney connection just made it cuter. I also love the meaning of Rory by itself – Red King… and thought being a family of redheads, it was kinda funky. The same old argument came up when I fell pregnant with daughter #2. Alas, I have no children with this name, but if I were to ever meet a little Aurora/Rory, I might just swoon.
Ava says
August 10, 2012 at 6:55 AMI couldn’t use Rory as a girls name personally, because I have a close (male) friend who bears the name. However, I love the Gilmore girls, and could easily see a girl Rory.
Kimberly says
August 7, 2012 at 8:07 PMI like Rory, and I love Marjorie and Florence, but I may go with Marji and Florrie, because they’re happier somehow to me. I also like Loretta and Rory could work for that name, but Lottie would too.
Julie says
August 4, 2012 at 1:02 AMThe only female Rory I know IRL is actually named Aurora. She’s more tomboy than Disney Princess, so Rory suits her best.
On a trip through Norway, my tour-guide was named Roar. Since many of the Americans in our tour couldn’t pronounce it correctly, he preferred that we just call him Rory. With that in mind, I’m thinking Rory would work as a feminine form of Roger and it’s a lot more elegant than Rogeria.
Lola says
August 3, 2012 at 4:32 PMI dislike Rory on a girl period. I don’t like it as a nickname either. As a Laura who got Lola as a kid, I feel like I escaped a fate worse than death! Lori is AWFUL to me (sorry), but I’ve also gotten Rora from my Chinese GF’s parents, so yeah, Rory *could* work. But really? blech.
KO says
August 3, 2012 at 11:48 AMI don’t care for Rory on either sex and I wonder at it’s popularity. To my ears it sounds like Scooby Doo trying to say Lori.
Kristin says
August 3, 2012 at 10:12 AMI truly love Rory for either gender, though I prefer it as a nickname to a more feminine full name for girls. Marjorie nicknamed Rory ir really standing out to me. I love Lorelei nicknamed Rory, too, but worry it’s TOO Gilmore Girls.
Tracy says
August 3, 2012 at 9:27 AMI love Rory as a nickname for Aurelia. That was my name waaaaay back in my high school Latin classes, and Rory is my father-in-law’s name. I think it could work!
I am also completely enamored with what Names4Real said about Rory working for Caroline, too… Caroline is at the top of our contenders list, and that makes it even MORE appealing to me!
Filipa says
August 3, 2012 at 9:24 AMMaybe Veronica, Victoria or Henriqueta…
Names4Real says
August 3, 2012 at 9:17 AMI like it as a nickname for Dorothy. Good suggestion.
Coraline made me think Rory could be a nickname for Caroline too.
What about Veronica, Victoria, and Gloria?
Kristin says
August 3, 2012 at 10:13 AMI’ve never thought of Rory as a nickname for Victoria! Victoria is one of the husband’s favorites that I love as well. We’ve shied away from it because of our mutual dislike of Vickie and Tori. I’ll have to run Rory by him. Great suggestion!
Fran says
August 3, 2012 at 12:23 PMWhat about Cora as an unusual nickname for Victoria?
Swan says
August 3, 2012 at 8:30 AMLOVE Rory for a girl (in fact, I love all those tomboy nns), but never much fancied Aurora or Loralei.
I love the idea of Margorie nn Rory! I never would have thought that before, but now I look at it, it makes perfect sense.
Charlotte Vera says
August 3, 2012 at 2:24 AMIf any name with “or” in it is serviceable then I suppose one could also get to Rory with Deborah (very updated from Debbie!) and Zipporah as well. Even Laura might do. Growing up I had a friend named Lorianne. She usually went by her full name or by Lori, which is only a short step to Rory.
I recently completed something of a Doctor Who marathon. Since one of the current main characters of the show is a man named Rory, I’m having a hard time seeing this as a girl’s name.
Caitlin B says
August 3, 2012 at 12:47 PMMy grandmother was Rosanna and so were two of her cousins. They were all born in Ireland and she went by Rory while one cousin was Anna and the last kept Rosanna. My female cousin’s name is Rory – not Rosanna, but still named for our grandma. Cousin Rory just had a little boy and named him Eamon (<3)!
Also, Charlotte Vera – love Doctor Who!! But Rory is more feminine to me (even though I know it comes from Ruari) because of my family.
Charlotte Vera says
August 3, 2012 at 4:31 PMFascinating! My own daughter is Roseanna, but due to an early inability to pronounce her own name she often goes by Zanna. Incidentally, my husband’s ethnic background is half Irish (dad’s side) and half Metis (mum’s side). Roseanna was named for her francophone Metis grandmother (hence the spelling), but it’s interesting to know that the name isn’t completely out of place with her Irish heritage.
Caitlin B says
August 4, 2012 at 11:19 AMZanna is adorable, I love that. I had to google Metis and fell into a super interesting Wiki-hole, so thanks for that! 🙂