UK boy's name
Roarke
Of Irish origin, a variant of the surname Rourke meaning "prosperous descendant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roarke is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Roarke popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1998 to 2012. 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.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Roarke. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roarke ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 boys were registered as Roarke.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roarke as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Roarke mean?
The name Roarke is a variant spelling of the Irish surname Rourke, which is derived from the Gaelic name Ruadhri. Ruadhri is composed of the elements "ruadh" meaning red, and "rí" meaning king or ruler. It was a popular name among the ancient Celts and early Irish nobility.
Roarke is believed to have originated in Ireland during the Middle Ages, possibly as early as the 9th or 10th century AD. It was a name given to male children born with red or auburn hair, which was seen as a mark of distinction and leadership qualities among the Celtic people.
One of the earliest recorded historical figures with the name Roarke was Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), who was the last High King of Ireland from 1166 to 1198 AD. He led the Irish resistance against the Norman invasion, but was eventually forced to abdicate and retire to a monastery.
Another notable figure was Ruaidrí Ó Mórdha (Rory O'More), an Irish chieftain and rebel leader who fought against English rule in the early 17th century during the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653). He was eventually captured and executed in 1652.
In the 18th century, Ruairidh MacRae (Roderick MacRae) was a Scottish Highland chief and Jacobite who fought in the Battle of Culloden in 1746, supporting the claim of Charles Edward Stuart to the British throne.
During the American Revolutionary War, Roderick Mackenzie (1753-1821) was a Scottish-born officer in the British Army who later settled in Canada after the war.
In more recent history, Rory Gallagher (1948-1995) was an influential Irish blues and rock musician, considered one of the greatest guitarists of his generation.
While the name Roarke is not as common today, it has a rich history and cultural significance rooted in the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland, often associated with leadership, courage, and a fiery spirit.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Roarke over time
The chart below shows babies named Roarke registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Roarke, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roarke by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roarke 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 | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4527 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2419 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Roarke
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Roarke: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roarke in the UK right now?
In 2012, Roarke was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Roarke most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Roarke in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roarke?
Of Irish origin, a variant of the surname Rourke meaning "prosperous descendant".
How many people are called Roarke in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Roarke across the 3 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.