Roy: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced ROY · 1 syllable
Roy means “king; ruler, king”, from Scottish and English and French.
From various sources: * Anglo-Norman roy (“king”) a variant of Old French roi, from Latin rex, regem from Proto-Indo-European *h3regs (“ruler, king”). Doublet of Rey. * Scottish Gaelic ruadh (“red, red-haired”) from Old Irish ruad, from Proto-Celtic *roudos from Proto-Indo-European *h1rewdh-. * Anglicisation of Bengali (ray, surname). Doublet of Rai, rex, and rajah.
- Meaning
- king; ruler, king
- Origin
- Scottish, English, French
- Pronunciation
- ROY
- US rank (2025)
- #525
- US babies a year
- about 563 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1890
- Style
- Vintage, Classic
How popular is Roy?
Roy was the #525 name in the US in 2025, given to 570 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1890.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #525 |
| Ireland | #780 |
| Canada | #537 |
How old are people named Roy?
Half of US adults named Roy are older than 67; most are between 32 and 87. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Roy
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Roy have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Roy
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Roy
What does the name Roy mean?
Roy means “king; ruler, king”. It comes from Scottish and English and French.
How do you pronounce Roy?
Roy is pronounced ROY.
How popular is the name Roy?
Roy was the #525 name in the US in 2025, given to 570 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1890.
How old are people named Roy?
Half of US adults named Roy are older than 67. Most are between 32 and 87.