What does Lorcan mean?
Lorcan means “little fierce one.”
What does Ruairi mean?
Ruairí means “red king” in Irish.
Lorcan vs Ruairi
Which is more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Lorcan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 9 named Lorcan.
| Lorcan | Ruairi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Little fierce one | Red king |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | LOR-kun | ROO-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1997 | 1988 |
| Peak year | 2018 (17) | 2022 (21) |
| In 2025 | 9 | 17 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lorcan
Ruairi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lorcan | Ruairi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 74 | 99 |
| 2010s | 95 | 91 |
| 2000s | 74 | 60 |
| 1990s | 18 | 33 |
| 1980s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lorcan or Ruairi more popular?
Ruairi is more popular than Lorcan today: about 17 US babies were given the name Ruairi in 2025, compared with 9 named Lorcan.
What is the difference between Lorcan and Ruairi?
Lorcan means Little fierce one (Irish origin), while Ruairi means Red king (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Lorcan or Ruairi?
In US records, Lorcan first appears in 1997 and Ruairi in 1988, so Ruairi has the longer recorded history.