Rourke

Gender: Boy
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Illustrious and mighty
Popularity: Not in the U.S. top 1,000 names

Rourke Meaning and Origin

Rourke is a boy’s name meaning “illustrious and mighty” and is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic surname “Ó Ruairc” or “Ó Ruarc,” which means “descendant of Ruarc.” The name “Ruarc” itself is composed of two elements: “rua,” meaning “red,” and “arc,” meaning “warrior” or “champion.” Thus, the name Rourke can be interpreted as “red warrior” or “champion with red hair.” In addition to being a surname, Rourke can also be used as a given name for boys. It gained popularity as a given name due to its association with the American actor Mickey Rourke, who rose to fame in the 1980s. The name Rourke has a strong and masculine sound, and its Irish heritage adds a touch of uniqueness. Rourke fits well with the modern trend toward surnames-as-first-names, for those who are fans of the style.

Names similar to Rourke:

• Declan
• Keegan
• Finnian
• Callahan
• Quinn
• Eamon
• Sullivan
• Cormac
• Kieran
• Tiernan

Posts with the name Rourke:

• 15 Super Rare Irish Boys Names Nobody is Using
• 40 One Syllable Boy Names