Given name & surname
Tory
“victorious woman; winner; conqueror”·“one who pays homage to Ireland”·“victory”
In English use, Tory has a related form in Ireland. One American interpretation is “one who pays homage to Ireland.” In English use, Tory is a short form of Victoria. The Latin word victoria means “victory,” the central association carried by the name.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In American use, Tory carries the interpretation “victorious woman; winner; conqueror.” In English use, Tory has a related form in Ireland. One American interpretation is “one who pays homage to Ireland.” In English use, Tory is a short form of Victoria. The Latin word victoria means “victory,” the central association carried by the name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
How it developed
In English use, Tory is used as an affectionate form of Victoria. In English use, Tory is a short form of Victoria. The shared background comes through Victoria: Victoria can be understood as the feminine form of Victorius. Victoria may also reflect direct use of the Latin word for victory; the two paths are closely related but not identical.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Tory is a short form of Victoria. The history of Victoria gives this family its wider story. Queen Victoria’s accession in 1837 made the name more familiar in England. Wider popularity among the British public came much later, during the twentieth century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Tory through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 10,916
- 6,990 boys · 3,926 girls
- Most popular year
- 1977
- 466 babies
- 2025
- 46
- #4,375 for boys · #5,704 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 58% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 24 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,375 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 34.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 286 in 1977. It also appeared in 22 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,579 as a first name in 2020; 500 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Tory’s family of names
Tory is an affectionate form of Victoria. Tory has a related form in Tori. In English usage, Tory is a short form of Victoria.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Tory
- Tory BurchAmerican fashion designer, businesswoman, and philanthropistborn 1962
- Tory KittlesAmerican actorborn 1975
- Tory MussettAustralian actressborn 1978
- Tory NyhaugCanadian racing cyclistborn 1992
- Tory Ann FretzUS American tennis playerborn 1942
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Tory, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dusty
“a brave fighter; from a dusty place”
71% boys · 29% girls
Rudi
“a well-known woman”
39% boys · 61% girls
Kirby
“from the church town” · “from the village with the church”
48% boys · 52% girls
Freedom
“an independent woman” · “an independent man”
39% boys · 61% girls
Kit
“having great strength”
53% boys · 47% girls
Teal
“having greenish-blue eyes”
34% boys · 66% girls
Marlo
“one who resembles driftwood”
44% boys · 56% girls
Happy
“a joyful woman” · “filled with joy”
45% boys · 55% girls