MallowbyNames

Roy

ROY · Derived from Scottish Gaelic 'ruadh' meaning 'red', often describing someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion.

2025 rank (boys)
#525
Babies named in 2025
570
Peak popularity
1897
2025 frequency
1 in 2,997 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 2010

A 1890s favorite, climbing again.

Popularity of Roy since 1880

Babies named Roy per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1947, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Roy's real moment was 1897.

2.5k5k7.6k1880192019602000Most births 1947Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s6,565
1890s9,779
1900s10,632
1910s40,340
1920s63,259
1930s51,495
1940s65,648
1950s61,847
1960s40,047
1970s22,353
1980s14,308
1990s8,601
2000s5,581
2010s5,017
2020s3,166

Meaning & origin

Roy is a succinct and sturdy name with layered origins. In the United States, it holds a current rank of 525 as of 2025, given to roughly 1 in every 2,997 baby boys. Its usage reflects a modest revival: after decades of decline, the name has been rising since 2010, gradually regaining attention. The all-time peak came much earlier in 1897, when Roy was far more common, especially in states like Montana, New Hampshire, and New Mexico, where it still sees relative favor today. Its simple, one-syllable sound and historical resonance keep it on the charts, bridging old-fashioned charm and understated modernity.

Roy originates from the Scottish Gaelic word 'ruadh', meaning 'red', and was historically used as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It also appears in Old French as 'rei' or 'roy', meaning 'king', a cognate of the Latin 'rex', and may have developed as a surname or given name in Anglo-Norman contexts. Additionally, Roy is an unrelated Hindi name derived from the Sanskrit 'raja', meaning 'king', used among some Indian communities. In the English-speaking world, Roy gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States, where it was often seen as a rugged, simple name.

Where Roy is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Roy” around the world

Where Roy lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    15

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    3

    babies in 2025

  • Quebec

    6

    babies in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).

Nicknames & variants

Variants: Ruadh, Ruadhán

Sibling names for Roy

Names that share Roy's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Maeve, Clara, Iris, Hazel, Blanche, Della, Eula, Faye, Gayle, Joyce, Myra, Roberta, Adell, Alta, Alva, Arlie, Belva, Dovie, Elma, Exie, Floy, Gay, Gaye, Glenna, Ina, Iola, Jetta, Jolene, Kaye, Larue, Leatha, Lela, Lelia, Leota, Lessie, Leta, Lida, Lin, Lona, Louella, Lovie, Luella, Lula, Lura, Lurline, Maybelle, Merrie, Nelle, Oma, Ova, Pearlie, Reba, Reta, Rubie, Rubye, Treva, Twila, Vergie, Vernice, Virgia, Audria, Berna, Carma, Carry, Chere, Clora, Cordia, Delcie, Elba, Elvie, Elzie, Erie, Etha, Florene, France, Glennis, Hazle, Idell, Ivery, Launa, Lelah, Lenna, Loma, Mallie, Minta, Myrl, Oneta, Onie, Onnie, Osie, Pearlene, Reatha, Reita, Rella, Rilla, Romie, Shelba, Toi, Vena, Vennie, Verdie, Verlie, Wava, Zona, Alverda, Bama, Beadie, Birda, Bonna, Bula, Buna, Byrdie, Ceil, Claris, Cleola, Cleona, Clyda, Coni, Corean, Dallie, Deette, Dellar, Dene, Dicie, Dola, Dossie, Ethyle, Evelene, Fayette, Ferol, Floye, Gae, Gaila, Gayl, Glena, Hasel, Ilean, Imo, Ireta, Ivah, Laural, Lavergne, Leetta, Leitha, Leoda, Leoma, Leotha, Letta, Loetta, Loleta, Lota, Macel, Mada, Maebell, Maeola, Mayola, Mertice, Neita, Neola, Nobie, Odelle, Oletha, Omie, Opha, Orene, Orlean, Orlena, Parlee, Pearlean, Pecola, Perlie, Pluma, Rayma, Reeda, Rinda, Roena, Ruie, Sayde, Shelvy, Toye, Ura, Vadie, Verlee, Vietta, Virdie, Vonna, Wanza, Waynette, Willamae, Willodean, Wynelle, Acy, Alean, Anola, Berdell, Carle, Dellia, Detta, Dore, Doylene, Elcie, Ellon, Emmalou, Ercel, Exa, Flordia, Floyce, Gola, Guyla, Ica, Icie, Inetta, Ioma, Iretta, Joyice, Lattie, Laverle, Lavita, Leita, Lether, Linn, Loann, Loeta, Lourene, Lucill, Ludell, Luwana, Maedell, Mazelle, Merlie, Mirtie, Monda, Myrlene, Necie, Obera, Okie, Okla, Oletta, Oneita, Opel, Oveda, Pairlee, Pearlee, Pernie, Reida, Roylene, Rushie, Sherl, Verdella, Waunita, Wretha, Clytee, Earlee, Oza, Rubena, Arra, Asalee, Athalene, Axie, Berda, Beva, Breta, Cele, Cleva, Clevie, Clorene, Creta, Darlette, Dorlis, Dula, Dulcy, Earsie, Ercie, Etoy, Eulamae, Eulla, Ezelle, Ezma, Fayne, Flara, Floree, Foye, Goldye, Iness, Lafaye, Lealer, Linnell, Loella, Loucille, Lulamae, Lurleen, Marlean, Mayre, Maysel, Orean, Orine, Orra, Ortha, Perle, Phala, Quita, Ranie, Rayette, Reata, Rebie, Recie, Rexine, Ritha, Roda, Royann, Royetta, Rubylee, Searcy, Suda, Therma, Twylah, Vear, Vergene, Vetta, Virtie, Wavie

Brothers: Owen, Leon, Felix, Miles, Dale, Earl, Floyd, Gene, Jay, Lee, Leroy, Wayne, Willard, Acie, Alvah, Arlen, Art, Burl, Burt, Chet, Coy, Dell, Dock, Duke, Early, Evon, Felton, Gilmer, Gus, Hank, Hoyt, Laroy, Lenord, Lon, Loyd, Lue, Mearl, Merle, Murrell, Odis, Orvil, Rance, Rayford, Raymon, Russ, Val, Van, Vern, Verne, Wylie, Alvie, Arch, Arliss, Boyce, Buck, Cleve, Cloyd, Coley, Colon, Derald, Deward, Earlie, Foy, Gaines, Garner, Hardin, Harrell, Heyward, Kemp, Leamon, Lem, Len, Levern, Lew, Loy, Lugene, Macon, Manley, Merl, Merrell, Monta, Murl, Newell, Obie, Oral, Orland, Randle, Rayburn, Reginal, Reno, Rolla, Ronal, Toy, Verl, Verle, Vic, Wyman, Alf, Ancel, Beauford, Boss, Buel, Buren, Burlin, Byrd, Byrl, Captain, Carvel, Chancy, Cleave, Clide, Cline, Curlee, Dail, Dal, Dearl, Denson, Dodge, Dow, Doy, Doyne, Duard, Earley, Erby, Erle, Erman, Estle, Eual, Euel, French, Gaither, Garlan, Gilman, Gleen, Handy, Harless, Haskel, Haynes, Hervey, Hoke, Hoy, Hoyle, Hue, Hulen, Irby, Jud, Kem, Kern, Lang, Lavere, Lenn, Lisle, Loney, Loyde, Loye, Lum, Moe, Mont, Murle, Neale, Orren, Oval, Ples, Purvis, Rande, Real, Revis, Rockey, Rolly, Roney, Royden, Rozell, Udell, Vearl, Vertis, Waddell, Wray, Zell, Atwood, Audy, Autry, Barnes, Belford, Bing, Birl, Birt, Blease, Burk, Burleigh, Burley, Burrel, Bynum, Claxton, Clent, Clete, Clif, Denney, Derril, Dorn, Dorse, Doyl, Duel, Duward, Elmus, Elray, Elzy, Ervie, Fermon, Gareld, Garnie, Granvil, Hamp, Harles, Harlis, Hassell, Hersey, Hewitt, Hillman, Huel, Inman, Irl, Jabe, Jep, Laymon, Leeman, Leory, Less, Letcher, Loel, Loys, Lymon, Mancel, Morse, Normon, Norval, Odel, Okey, Orlie, Orlyn, Rahn, Redell, Robley, Rollan, Ronold, Sebron, Tilton, Ulis, Verdon, Wirt, Burel, Burlie, Jewett, Key, Leavy, Othal, Rual, Argyle, Belton, Boykin, Brace, Brainard, Burch, Burman, Burris, Buryl, Byard, Chevis, Clanton, Cleburn, Cloy, Cloyde, Corbitt, Correll, Coyt, Curly, Dare, Dewell, Dink, Dodd, Doil, Dois, Dorr, Doye, Earmon, Elzia, Ervine, Felder, Floyde, Forney, Fount, Gilliam, Guerry, Harl, Herley, Huie, Hy, Lott, Loyed, Mancil, Mead, Meril, Merland, Mirl, Mort, Ogle, Oley, Oney, Orby, Orvie, Osby, Pratt, Rawn, Rawson, Rayman, Robey, Seaton, Tip, Trice, Twain, Ulus, Willett

Names like Roy

Names whose popularity has moved with Roy's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

R is for Roy, our favorite little boy.

R is for Roy…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Roy's letter becomes Roy's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Roy's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What is the meaning of the name Roy?
Roy primarily means 'red' from Scottish Gaelic 'ruadh', often referring to red hair, but it can also mean 'king' from Old French or Hindi origins.
How popular is the name Roy?
Roy is currently ranked 525th in the United States, with approximately 1 in 2,997 baby boys given the name in 2025. Its popularity has been rising since 2010, though it peaked in 1897.
Is Roy a boy's or girl's name?
Roy is traditionally a masculine name and is used almost exclusively for boys.