When did Rory go from being a boy's name to being unisex or feminine?

The only Rory's in history I've heard of were men: the actors Rory Calhoun and Rory Cochrane, and the obscure British musician Rory Storm (Ringo Starr was in his band before he joined the Beatles), and the irish musician Rory Gallagher





But now when I say i would like to name a son that, I always get "isn't that girl's name?"





What happened?

When did Rory go from being a boy's name to being unisex or feminine?
This is happening a lot. Any time a name goes unisex it eventually (sometimes takes many years) gets associated with femininity and it goes out of favor as a boy's name.





Examples: My father in law's name is Beverley. This was once a perfectly acceptable name for boys. (Late 40s, early 50s) His brother is named Sandy. I also have a brother in law named Jody and my nephew's name is Courtney. I kid you not. These were once predominantly male names.





John Wayne's real name is Marion. It used to be a unisex name.





Carmen started out as a boy's name.





Names that used to be strictly masculine are being taken for girls- or new unisex names are being made up. Examples: Bailey, Jordan, Cameron, Ryan, Morgan, Alex, Riley, Dakota, Jayden, Morgan, Logan even James, Noah and Michael, etc, etc. And as soon as these names begin getting popular for girls, they start to disappear for boys.





It's a trend I guess, hard to tell which name is going to pop up as a girl's name next! :)
Reply:Rory is Irish and means "red king", which to me says it is a masculine name. Report Abuse

Reply:I'm sure it's been a unisex name for a while, but I think the widespread cultural confusion is due to the Gilmore Girls.


Rory is an uncommon name, and most peoples' experience with it is probably through that show, in which case a girl is named Lorelai, but called Rory.


I have only known, in real life, boy Rory's though. I think it's a great name.
Reply:The only place I have every heard it was on the Gilmore Girls and I guess the "E" sound on the end of it makes me think feminine. I did not know it was a male name because I have never heard it used that way. If you like Rory for a little boy then go with it. Name your child what you feel comfortable with and like.
Reply:people are mentioning "Gilmore Girls" but I also thought I'd reference Rory Freedman, the best-selling author of the "Skinny B*tch" series who has been alive much longer than Gilmore Girls has been on the air, lol.
Reply:Rory is more of a nickname for girls called Aurora or Lorelai.


Yes, you should be mad at the writers of Gilmore Girls!


I don't like the name btw.
Reply:i gotta go with the answers from others rory is a more feminine name and i really havent ever heard it as a guy except celebs and their names are always weird
Reply:The only time I've ever heard this name was on Gillmore Girls and the character that has this name is a girl.
Reply:i went to high school with a Rory way back when and when i still hear that name i think about a 300 lb nasty greasy haired boy with a leather coat...sorry :)
Reply:Never heard of a girl named Rory. I think it is an irish boys name and I really like it.
Reply:It's a unisex name to me. But I prefer it as a boy's name. ;)
Reply:I didn't even know Rory was a boys name. It sounds masculine but the "ee" sound ending ruins it.
Reply:I've never heard of it being used for girls, but I live in Europe. It's solidly a masculine name here.
Reply:When dumb parents decided to make it trendy..
Reply:No it has always been a unisex name.So leave it alone!
Reply:Since Gillmore Girls :)

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