Coy Unisex

Popularity: #806 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: koy /kɔɪ/

Origin: English; Native American

Meaning: English: quiet; Native American: (varies by tribe)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Coy has its roots in the Old French word "coi," meaning "quiet" or "calm," which itself derives from the Latin "quietus," meaning "resting" or "at rest." This etymological journey reflects a transition from Latin to Old French, and subsequently into Middle English, where it began to take on various forms. The name Coy entered the English lexicon during the Middle Ages, a period marked by significant linguistic evolution due to the Norman Conquest, which introduced many French terms into English.

Historically, the name Coy has been associated with various cultural and literary figures, although it is less prominent than some other names. Its use can be traced back to the 19th century in English-speaking regions, where it appeared in literature and local records.

The name's gentle connotation of calmness and tranquility may have contributed to its appeal in certain contexts, particularly in pastoral or nature-themed works. While not directly linked to any major biblical figures or saints, the qualities associated with the name resonate with themes of peace and serenity found in various cultural narratives.

Culturally, the name Coy has been embraced in different traditions, often symbolizing a sense of modesty or shyness, which aligns with its original meanings. This subtlety has allowed the name to endure in various forms, sometimes appearing as a diminutive or affectionate variant in familial contexts.

The name's quiet strength and simplicity have made it a fitting choice in literature and folklore, where characters embodying such traits often play significant roles in narratives centered around harmony and introspection.

Famous people named Coy

In this section, you will find notable people named Coy. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Coy who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Coy who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Coy Bowles is a musician best known for being a member of Zac Brown Band.

Coy Gibbs is a former professional American football player best known for his time with the Washington Redskins.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Coy, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Coy. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Coy was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Coy has ranked as high as #648 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.

In the past 5 years the name Coy has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Coy is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Coy was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Coy (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 17
26%
TN 10
15%
OH 7
11%
LA 6
9%
MO 6
9%
AL 5
8%
VA 5
8%
GA 5
8%
IA 5
8%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Coy.

YearBirths
2024118
2023104
2022121
2021104
2020126
2019128
2018129
2017142
2016141
2015137
2014152
2013156
2012161
2011118
2010135
2009136
2008125
2007143
2006162
2005125
2004161
2003160
2002126
2001130
2000127
1999140
1998120
1997143
1996106
1995100
199496
1993110
1992118
199199
199096
198995
1988108
1987114
1986102
1985114
1984114
1983139
198292
198186
1980110
197993
197898
1977103
1976100
1975102
1974103
1973108
1972113
1971100
1970129
196995
1968101
196797
196697
1965105
1964116
1963111
1962119
1961111
1960142
1959127
1958113
1957147
1956147
1955142
1954155
1953145
1952129
1951150
1950141
1949160
1948159
1947191
1946170
1945164
1944210
1943201
1942188
1941188
1940193
1939181
1938207
1937197
1936179
1935216
1934227
1933179
1932178
1931201
1930214
1929201
1928225
1927214
1926264
1925244
1924234
1923221
1922214
1921205
1920241
1919257
1918246
1917196
1916228
1915189
1914141
191395
191297
191139
191069
190943
190834
190724
190621
190541
190422
190338
190235
190117
190027
189916
189818
189717
189613
189519
189411
18935
189211
189112
18908
18896
188810
18866
18858
18835
188211
18817
18806