Roy Boy

Popularity: #472 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROY /rɔɪ/

Origin: Old French; Latin

Meaning: Old French: king; Latin: red-haired

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Roy has its roots in the Old French word "roi," which translates to "king." This term itself derives from the Latin "rex," meaning "king," which can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *reg-, meaning "to rule." The transition from Latin to Old French occurred during the medieval period, particularly as the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century brought many French words into the English language. As a result, the name Roy entered English usage, embodying the connotations of nobility and leadership associated with its royal origins.

Historically, the name Roy has been borne by various notable figures, including medieval nobility and saints. One significant milestone is its association with the Scottish royal family, where it was used as a title for kings, particularly in the context of Scottish Gaelic culture.

The name also appears in literature and historical texts, reinforcing its regal implications. The use of Roy in English literature can be traced back to the 19th century, where it was employed by authors to evoke themes of honor and valor, often linked to chivalric ideals.

Culturally, the name Roy has resonated with themes of leadership and authority, making it a symbol of strength and dignity. In various traditions, the name has been associated with valorous knights and heroic figures, further solidifying its noble connotations.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Royce" have emerged, though they are less common. Overall, the name Roy encapsulates a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its royal lineage and enduring legacy.

Famous people named Roy

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

We also feature individuals named Roy 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.

Roy Orbison is a singer-songwriter best known for Oh, Pretty Woman, Crying, and Only the Lonely.

Roy Scheider is an actor best known for Jaws, The French Connection, and All That Jazz.

Roy Hodgson is a football manager best known for managing the England national team, Liverpool, and Fulham.

Roy Rogers is a singer and actor best known for his roles in western films and the television series The Roy Rogers Show.

Roy Acuff is a country music singer and fiddler best known for Great Speckled Bird, Wabash Cannonball, and being a Grand Ole Opry star.

Roy Thomas is a comic book writer best known for co-creating characters such as Wolverine and the Avengers in Marvel Comics.

Roy Williams is a basketball coach best known for his time at the University of North Carolina and winning multiple NCAA championships.

Roy Lichtenstein is an artist best known for his pop art works such as Drowning Girl and Whaam!

Roy Jones Jr. is a professional boxer best known for being a world champion in multiple weight classes and his boxing career achievements.

Roy Dotrice is an actor best known for his role in Amadeus and as the narrator of the A Song of Ice and Fire audiobooks.

Fictional characters named Roy

The following list of fictional characters named Roy 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.

Roy Mustang is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Fullmetal Alchemist. He is a skilled alchemist and the leader of the Amestrian military's Special Operations, known for his ambition and strong sense of justice.

Roy Harper is a fictional character from DC Comics. He is a skilled archer and former sidekick to Green Arrow, known for his struggles with addiction and his journey towards redemption.

Sibling suggestions

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

RayRoryRoyceRonanReedReese

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Roy. 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.

RoryRonanRoyceReidRyderRylanRoccoRufus

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Roy has ranked as high as #96 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and North Carolina.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

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

Top States for Roy (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
CA 70
14%
TX 58
12%
FL 31
6%
NY 31
6%
PA 25
5%
NC 21
4%
GA 19
4%
WA 16
3%
SC 15
3%
AZ 15
3%
UT 15
3%
VA 14
3%
MN 14
3%
MI 13
3%
WI 12
2%

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 Roy.

YearBirths
2024552
2023526
2022508
2021519
2020486
2019494
2018520
2017529
2016539
2015534
2014525
2013508
2012466
2011443
2010457
2009473
2008552
2007535
2006599
2005530
2004543
2003570
2002566
2001572
2000638
1999638
1998655
1997749
1996719
1995732
1994862
1993897
1992992
19911,129
19901,227
19891,258
19881,164
19871,262
19861,283
19851,380
19841,383
19831,456
19821,617
19811,726
19801,779
19791,753
19781,795
19771,913
19761,871
19752,120
19742,187
19732,236
19722,476
19712,960
19703,041
19693,001
19683,177
19673,276
19663,523
19653,784
19644,150
19634,438
19624,477
19614,965
19605,253
19595,183
19585,525
19576,064
19566,133
19556,329
19546,513
19536,656
19526,524
19516,466
19506,454
19496,622
19487,066
19477,560
19466,924
19456,183
19446,534
19436,931
19426,311
19415,950
19405,564
19395,155
19385,042
19374,888
19364,817
19354,939
19345,104
19334,906
19325,238
19315,489
19305,917
19295,812
19286,229
19276,387
19266,224
19256,376
19246,557
19236,316
19226,458
19216,545
19206,355
19195,970
19186,211
19175,586
19165,327
19155,052
19143,852
19133,090
19122,591
19111,394
19101,267
19091,135
19081,097
19071,128
19061,024
19051,016
19041,123
1903975
19021,002
1901917
19001,215
1899912
18981,049
1897999
18961,027
18951,028
18941,018
1893919
18921,048
1891838
1890941
1889888
1888856
1887726
1886767
1885691
1884680
1883556
1882521
1881440
1880440