UK boy's name
Rourke
A Latinate given name of Irish origin meaning "reddish-brown" or "ruddy complexion".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rourke is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rourke popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 8 births.
This profile covers 60 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1998 to 2020. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 59 living people in the UK are called Rourke. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rourke ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 8 boys were registered as Rourke.
- • About 59 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rourke as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
8 births
Estimated living
59
2026
Meaning
What does Rourke mean?
The name Rourke is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Ruairc, which means "descendant of Ruarc". Ruarc was a personal name of Irish-Gaelic origin, likely meaning "red king" or "red champion". The name can be traced back to the early medieval period in Ireland, around the 9th or 10th century.
The surname Ó Ruairc was prominent among the ruling families of the medieval Kingdom of Breifne, located in what is now County Leitrim, Ireland. The Ó Ruairc clan was known for their involvement in various conflicts and power struggles with other Irish clans and the Anglo-Norman invaders during the 12th and 13th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Tighernan Ua Ruairc, who was the King of Breifne from 1166 to 1172. He is mentioned in the Annals of Ulster and other Irish historical records for his battles against the Anglo-Normans and his role in the conflict over the High Kingship of Ireland.
Another notable historical figure with the name Rourke was Donal Oge O'Rourke, who lived in the 15th century and was the Lord of West Breifne. He is recorded as having fought against the English forces in Ireland and was involved in various conflicts with other Irish clans.
In the 16th century, Brian O'Rourke, also known as Brian na Samhthach ("Brian of the Straw Breed"), was a prominent member of the O'Rourke clan and played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland.
Over the centuries, the name Rourke has been used by various individuals, including the Irish writer and artist Constance Rourke (1885-1941), who was known for her works on American folklore and culture. Another notable bearer of the name was the American actor Mickey Rourke (born 1952), known for his roles in films such as "Sin City" and "The Wrestler".
While the name Rourke has its origins in Ireland and was historically associated with the Gaelic clan of the same name, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries with Irish diaspora communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rourke over time
The chart below shows babies named Rourke registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rourke, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rourke by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rourke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4691 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2740 | 36 | 7 |
| 1990s | #1836 | 12 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rourke
- 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
Rourke: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rourke in the UK right now?
In 2020, Rourke was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rourke most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 8 babies registered as Rourke in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rourke?
A Latinate given name of Irish origin meaning "reddish-brown" or "ruddy complexion".
How many people are called Rourke in the UK?
A total of 60 babies have been registered as Rourke across the 13 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.