A unisex Irish name is predicted to go viral in the US next year, and although it has decent popularity for baby boys in Ireland, it is virtually unused for girls.
Irish names are increasing in popularity by the year in English-speaking countries, and the trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
It’s actually lovely to see Irish names getting so much love; Liam has been the most popular name for boys in the US for almost a decade, Oscar is beloved in both Scandinavia and England, and Cillian is shooting in popularity all around the place.
But there is always room for more, and one lovely Irish name is finally getting some more love.
Irish name predicted to go viral in the US
The experts at BabyCenter have predicted the names destined for popularity in 2027, and one Irish name makes the list. The name is Rory, which is an anglicised version of the traditional Irish name Ruairí, and although it is typically used for boys in Ireland, it is predicted for popularity among baby girls in the US.
For girls, Rory has risen 31 places this year, and it is only expected to rise from here. This is a completely different story in Ireland, where there are no records of Rory being used for baby girls in 2025, so it could be the perfect choice for parents-to-be.
For boys, meanwhile, Rory was the 60th most popular name in 2025, and its Irish counterpart came in at number 67, according to the CSO.
Both Rory and Ruairí mean ‘red-haired king.'
*This article was originally published on EveryMum.ie.