Coy Unisex
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 | |
| TN | 10 | |
| OH | 7 | |
| LA | 6 | |
| MO | 6 | |
| AL | 5 | |
| VA | 5 | |
| GA | 5 | |
| IA | 5 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 118 |
| 2023 | 104 |
| 2022 | 121 |
| 2021 | 104 |
| 2020 | 126 |
| 2019 | 128 |
| 2018 | 129 |
| 2017 | 142 |
| 2016 | 141 |
| 2015 | 137 |
| 2014 | 152 |
| 2013 | 156 |
| 2012 | 161 |
| 2011 | 118 |
| 2010 | 135 |
| 2009 | 136 |
| 2008 | 125 |
| 2007 | 143 |
| 2006 | 162 |
| 2005 | 125 |
| 2004 | 161 |
| 2003 | 160 |
| 2002 | 126 |
| 2001 | 130 |
| 2000 | 127 |
| 1999 | 140 |
| 1998 | 120 |
| 1997 | 143 |
| 1996 | 106 |
| 1995 | 100 |
| 1994 | 96 |
| 1993 | 110 |
| 1992 | 118 |
| 1991 | 99 |
| 1990 | 96 |
| 1989 | 95 |
| 1988 | 108 |
| 1987 | 114 |
| 1986 | 102 |
| 1985 | 114 |
| 1984 | 114 |
| 1983 | 139 |
| 1982 | 92 |
| 1981 | 86 |
| 1980 | 110 |
| 1979 | 93 |
| 1978 | 98 |
| 1977 | 103 |
| 1976 | 100 |
| 1975 | 102 |
| 1974 | 103 |
| 1973 | 108 |
| 1972 | 113 |
| 1971 | 100 |
| 1970 | 129 |
| 1969 | 95 |
| 1968 | 101 |
| 1967 | 97 |
| 1966 | 97 |
| 1965 | 105 |
| 1964 | 116 |
| 1963 | 111 |
| 1962 | 119 |
| 1961 | 111 |
| 1960 | 142 |
| 1959 | 127 |
| 1958 | 113 |
| 1957 | 147 |
| 1956 | 147 |
| 1955 | 142 |
| 1954 | 155 |
| 1953 | 145 |
| 1952 | 129 |
| 1951 | 150 |
| 1950 | 141 |
| 1949 | 160 |
| 1948 | 159 |
| 1947 | 191 |
| 1946 | 170 |
| 1945 | 164 |
| 1944 | 210 |
| 1943 | 201 |
| 1942 | 188 |
| 1941 | 188 |
| 1940 | 193 |
| 1939 | 181 |
| 1938 | 207 |
| 1937 | 197 |
| 1936 | 179 |
| 1935 | 216 |
| 1934 | 227 |
| 1933 | 179 |
| 1932 | 178 |
| 1931 | 201 |
| 1930 | 214 |
| 1929 | 201 |
| 1928 | 225 |
| 1927 | 214 |
| 1926 | 264 |
| 1925 | 244 |
| 1924 | 234 |
| 1923 | 221 |
| 1922 | 214 |
| 1921 | 205 |
| 1920 | 241 |
| 1919 | 257 |
| 1918 | 246 |
| 1917 | 196 |
| 1916 | 228 |
| 1915 | 189 |
| 1914 | 141 |
| 1913 | 95 |
| 1912 | 97 |
| 1911 | 39 |
| 1910 | 69 |
| 1909 | 43 |
| 1908 | 34 |
| 1907 | 24 |
| 1906 | 21 |
| 1905 | 41 |
| 1904 | 22 |
| 1903 | 38 |
| 1902 | 35 |
| 1901 | 17 |
| 1900 | 27 |
| 1899 | 16 |
| 1898 | 18 |
| 1897 | 17 |
| 1896 | 13 |
| 1895 | 19 |
| 1894 | 11 |
| 1893 | 5 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1891 | 12 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1888 | 10 |
| 1886 | 6 |
| 1885 | 8 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1882 | 11 |
| 1881 | 7 |
| 1880 | 6 |