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.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6,565 |
| 1890s | 9,779 |
| 1900s | 10,632 |
| 1910s | 40,340 |
| 1920s | 63,259 |
| 1930s | 51,495 |
| 1940s | 65,648 |
| 1950s | 61,847 |
| 1960s | 40,047 |
| 1970s | 22,353 |
| 1980s | 14,308 |
| 1990s | 8,601 |
| 2000s | 5,581 |
| 2010s | 5,017 |
| 2020s | 3,166 |
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.
“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.

