NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Roarie

A diminutive Irish form of Ruairidh meaning "red-haired king".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Roarie is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Roarie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3040, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 6 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2017 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Roarie is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Roarie. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Roarie ranked #3040 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 6 boys were registered as Roarie.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roarie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3040

2017

Births in 2017

6

Latest year

Peak year

2017

6 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Roarie mean?

The name Roarie is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic language, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a diminutive or pet form of the more common name Rory, which itself is derived from the Old Norse name Rögnvaldr or Rögnvaldur, meaning "ruler's counsellor" or "famous ruler."

Roarie is a masculine name that was likely used in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, where Gaelic culture and traditions were deeply rooted. The name's earliest recorded use is somewhat obscure, as written records from that time and region are scarce. However, it is reasonable to assume that variations of the name were in circulation among the clans and families of the Scottish Highlands during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest notable references to the name Roarie can be found in the 16th century, when Roarie MacLeod (c. 1535-1595) was a prominent figure in the clan feuds of the Western Isles of Scotland. He was known as Roarie the Turbulent or Roarie the Quarrelsome and played a significant role in the conflicts between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds.

In the 17th century, Roarie MacLean (c. 1620-1690) was a Scottish historian and poet from the Isle of Mull. He is best known for his work "The Book of Clanranald," which documented the history and genealogy of the Clan Ranald, a branch of the Clan Donald.

Another notable bearer of the name was Roarie Gillies (c. 1670-1745), a Scottish Jacobite soldier and poet from Perthshire. He fought in the risings of 1715 and 1719, and his poems were highly regarded for their vivid descriptions of Highland life and culture.

In the 18th century, Roarie Mor (c. 1725-1804), also known as Rory MacLeod or Big Rory, was a renowned Scottish bard and storyteller from the Isle of Skye. He was renowned for his vast repertoire of Gaelic songs, tales, and traditions, which he shared with audiences throughout the Highlands.

The name Roarie also appears in the historical record as the first name of Roarie MacDonald (c. 1780-1855), a Scottish soldier and explorer who served in the British Army. He is notable for his explorations of the Canadian Arctic and his work in mapping the northern regions of what is now the Northwest Territories.

While the name Roarie has its roots in Scottish Gaelic culture and history, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the English-speaking world, particularly in areas with strong Scottish or Celtic heritage. However, the name remains relatively uncommon, preserving its unique and historical character.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Roarie by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roarie was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #3040 6 1

Related

Names similar to Roarie

FAQ

Roarie: questions and answers

How popular is the name Roarie in the UK right now?

In 2017, Roarie was ranked #3040 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Roarie most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 6 babies registered as Roarie in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Roarie?

A diminutive Irish form of Ruairidh meaning "red-haired king".

How many people are called Roarie in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Roarie across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.