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