Leroy Boy

Popularity: #650 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: luh-ROY /ləˈrɔɪ/

Origin: French; English

Meaning: French: 'the king'; English: 'the king'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Leroy has its roots in the Old French term "le roi," which translates to "the king." This phrase was used in medieval France, where it served as a title of respect and nobility. The term made its way into English during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many French words and phrases were adopted into the English language.

The transformation from a phrase denoting royalty to a given name reflects the cultural significance of kingship in medieval society, where names often conveyed status and lineage. Historically, the name Leroy has been associated with various figures of authority and nobility, although specific notable individuals are less documented compared to other names.

The use of Leroy as a personal name became more common in the 19th century, particularly in the United States, where it was embraced by families of French descent and others who sought to evoke a sense of grandeur or heritage. The name's association with royalty and leadership has contributed to its appeal across generations.

Culturally, Leroy embodies themes of strength and dignity, resonating with the ideals of leadership and nobility. It has been featured in various literary works and popular culture, often symbolizing a character with authority or charisma.

The name has also inspired diminutive forms such as Lee, which can be seen as a more casual or affectionate variant. Overall, Leroy's etymological roots and historical significance reflect a deep connection to themes of power and respect, making it a name with enduring cultural resonance.

Famous people named Leroy

In this section, you will find notable people named Leroy. 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 Leroy who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Leroy 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.

Leroy Anderson is a composer best known for Sleigh Ride, The Typewriter, and Blue Tango.

Leroy Sane is a professional footballer best known for playing with Manchester City and the German national team.

Leroy Neiman was an artist best known for his vibrant paintings of sports and leisure activities.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character best known as the lead agent in the television series NCIS.

Fictional characters named Leroy

The following list of fictional characters named Leroy is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional character from the TV series NCIS. He is the special agent in charge of the NCIS Major Case Response Team, known for his leadership and investigative skills.

Leroy is a fictional character from the animated series The Boondocks. They are a member of the Freeman family and often provide comedic commentary on social issues.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Leroy, 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 Leroy. 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 Leroy was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Leroy has ranked as high as #121 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Illinois, New York, and Louisiana.

In the past 5 years the name Leroy has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Leroy 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 Leroy was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Leroy (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
PA 23
10%
CA 18
8%
MI 17
7%
TX 16
7%
MN 14
6%
WI 14
6%
OH 12
5%
FL 10
4%
IA 10
4%
MO 10
4%
NY 10
4%
OR 9
4%
GA 8
3%
NC 8
3%
IL 8
3%

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 Leroy.

YearBirths
2024278
2023270
2022281
2021254
2020242
2019224
2018250
2017227
2016230
2015209
2014191
2013206
2012225
2011187
2010219
2009201
2008231
2007195
2006211
2005187
2004222
2003225
2002218
2001215
2000252
1999252
1998279
1997308
1996308
1995341
1994339
1993361
1992414
1991449
1990504
1989488
1988490
1987499
1986540
1985539
1984530
1983524
1982674
1981616
1980699
1979730
1978707
1977735
1976760
1975799
1974773
1973807
1972916
19711,012
19701,169
19691,230
19681,197
19671,277
19661,349
19651,538
19641,585
19631,644
19621,703
19611,829
19601,867
19592,018
19582,074
19572,316
19562,352
19552,415
19542,639
19532,579
19522,645
19512,716
19502,835
19492,938
19483,234
19473,347
19463,471
19453,172
19443,409
19433,740
19423,717
19413,524
19403,311
19393,388
19383,491
19373,555
19363,644
19353,918
19343,774
19333,357
19323,677
19313,648
19303,804
19293,818
19283,871
19273,912
19263,808
19253,884
19243,922
19233,686
19223,671
19213,749
19203,549
19193,422
19183,422
19172,951
19162,699
19152,450
19142,004
19131,582
19121,306
1911706
1910733
1909568
1908523
1907550
1906420
1905441
1904401
1903340
1902370
1901268
1900419
1899269
1898315
1897291
1896278
1895249
1894239
1893244
1892233
1891190
1890236
1889186
1888192
1887177
1886155
1885162
1884154
1883143
1882152
1881129
1880124