Roy Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated July 9, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Roy Name Meaning

Fact: In Scotland, the name Roy is often associated with Rob Roy, a notorious outlaw, known for his red hair and a nickname of Scottish Robin Hood.

Continue Reading…
A Deep Dive

Roy Overview

Meaning

Red-haired, red, king

Gender

Boy

Origin

Scottish, Irish, Gaelic, French

Etymology

Derived from the Gaelic word “ruadh,” meaning “red,” and also associated with the French word “roi,” meaning “king”.

Pronunciation

/rɔɪ/

Popularity

The name Roy is used in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. In 2023, Roy ranked #552 for boys in the USA.

Syllable

1 syllable

Length

3 letters

Numerology

22 (Influential, Visionary, Powerful)

Name Styles

Traditional, Short, Classic

Associated Traits

Strong, loyal, courageous, determined.

Name Day

September 7th (Sweden), November 3 (Norway)
A Deep Dive

Roy Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Leroy, Royce, Royal, Rory, Royston, Royden, Roi, Ruy, Raoul, Roddy

Common Nicknames

Roycie, Ro, Roro, Royboy, Roycee, Roys, Rory, Royster, Roybean, Roykin

Diminutives

Royie, Royie-pie, Little Roy, Royko, Royito, Roykin, Roynie, Roybaby, Roysie, Royito

Famous People

  • Roy Orbison
    (American Rock Singer)
  • Roy Keane
    (Irish Soccer Player)
  • Roy Lichtenstein
    (American Pop Artist)
  • Roy Scheider
    (American Actor)
  • Roy Acuff
    (American Country Singer)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Roy Hobbs
    ("The Natural," Film)
  • Roy Batty
    ("Blade Runner," Film)
  • Roy Trenneman
    ("The IT Crowd," TV Series)
  • Roy Mustang
    ("Fullmetal Alchemist," Anime Series)
  • Roy Harper
    ("Arrow," TV Series)

Places

  • Roy
    (Utah, USA)
  • Roy
    (Washington, USA)
  • Roy
    (New Mexico, USA)
  • Roy
    (Montana, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Roy?

Roy means “red-haired, red, king.” Individuals named Roy often exhibit a bold and charismatic personality.

What Is the Origin of The Name Roy?

The name Roy has its origins in Scottish, Irish, Gaelic, and French cultures. It derives from the Gaelic word “ruadh,” meaning “red,” and the French word “roi,” meaning “king”.

Roy Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Roy in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#5512021#5762022#5522023
Top 3 Rankings#181889#181890#181891

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Roy

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
2023552
(+24 from 2022)
526
(+19 from 2022)
0.02873
2022576
(-25 from 2021)
507
(-12 from 2021)
0.02707
2021551
(+22 from 2020)
519
(+34 from 2020)
0.02770
2020573
(-8 from 2019)
485
(-9 from 2019)
0.02622
2019565
(-26 from 2018)
494
(-26 from 2018)
0.02571
2018539
(-5 from 2017)
520
(-9 from 2017)
0.02675
2017534
(+5 from 2016)
529
(-10 from 2016)
0.02673
2016539
(-7 from 2015)
539
(+5 from 2015)
0.02661
2015532
(-2 from 2014)
534
(+9 from 2014)
0.02612
2014530
(-6 from 2013)
525
(+17 from 2013)
0.02562
2013524
(+34 from 2012)
508
(+42 from 2012)
0.02514
2012558
(+8 from 2011)
466
(+23 from 2011)
0.02296
2011566
(-14 from 2010)
443
(-14 from 2010)
0.02181
2010552
(+5 from 2009)
457
(-16 from 2009)
0.02224
2009557
(-61 from 2008)
473
(-79 from 2008)
0.02230
2008496
No change from 2007
552
(+17 from 2007)
0.02532
2007496
(-45 from 2006)
535
(-64 from 2006)
0.02415
2006451
(+20 from 2005)
599
(+69 from 2005)
0.02732
2005471
(-4 from 2004)
530
(-12 from 2004)
0.02491
2004467
(-27 from 2003)
542
(-28 from 2003)
0.02565
2003440
(-1 from 2002)
570
(+5 from 2002)
0.02713
2002439
(-11 from 2001)
565
(-7 from 2001)
0.02734
2001428
(-29 from 2000)
572
(-66 from 2000)
0.02765
2000399
(-6 from 1999)
638
No change from 1999
0.03055
1999393
(-12 from 1998)
638
(-17 from 1998)
0.03129
1998381
(-37 from 1997)
655
(-94 from 1997)
0.03230
1997344
No change from 1996
749
(+30 from 1996)
0.03749
1996344
(-8 from 1995)
719
(-13 from 1995)
0.03588
1995336
(-30 from 1994)
732
(-130 from 1994)
0.03639
1994306
No change from 1993
862
(-35 from 1993)
0.04229
1993306
(-21 from 1992)
897
(-94 from 1992)
0.04343
1992285
(-38 from 1991)
991
(-136 from 1991)
0.04721
1991247
(-12 from 1990)
1127
(-99 from 1990)
0.05317
1990235
(-18 from 1989)
1226
(-31 from 1989)
0.05697
1989217
(+3 from 1988)
1257
(+94 from 1988)
0.05997
1988220
(-17 from 1987)
1163
(-97 from 1987)
0.05808
1987203
(-6 from 1986)
1260
(-23 from 1986)
0.06461
1986197
(-11 from 1985)
1283
(-97 from 1985)
0.06676
1985186
(-4 from 1984)
1380
(-3 from 1984)
0.07171
1984182
(-6 from 1983)
1383
(-73 from 1983)
0.07369
1983176
(-9 from 1982)
1456
(-161 from 1982)
0.07813
1982167
(-10 from 1981)
1617
(-109 from 1981)
0.08568
1981157
(-4 from 1980)
1726
(-53 from 1980)
0.09268
1980153
(-3 from 1979)
1779
(+26 from 1979)
0.09592
1979150
(-3 from 1978)
1753
(-42 from 1978)
0.09786
1978147
(-6 from 1977)
1795
(-118 from 1977)
0.10506
1977141
(-2 from 1976)
1913
(+42 from 1976)
0.11191
1976139
(-17 from 1975)
1871
(-250 from 1975)
0.11460
1975122
No change from 1974
2121
(-66 from 1974)
0.13073
1974122
(-5 from 1973)
2187
(-48 from 1973)
0.13415
1973117
(-4 from 1972)
2235
(-241 from 1972)
0.13851
1972113
(-3 from 1971)
2476
(-484 from 1971)
0.14791
1971110
(-2 from 1970)
2960
(-81 from 1970)
0.16283
1970108
(-3 from 1969)
3041
(+40 from 1969)
0.15965
1969105
(-11 from 1968)
3001
(-177 from 1968)
0.16406
196894
(+1 from 1967)
3178
(-97 from 1967)
0.17900
196795
(-1 from 1966)
3275
(-248 from 1966)
0.18405
196694
(+1 from 1965)
3523
(-262 from 1965)
0.19382
196595
(-4 from 1964)
3785
(-361 from 1964)
0.19978
196491
(-2 from 1963)
4146
(-294 from 1963)
0.20454
196389
(+1 from 1962)
4440
(-38 from 1962)
0.21505
196290
(-7 from 1961)
4478
(-485 from 1961)
0.21307
196183
(-3 from 1960)
4963
(-286 from 1960)
0.23009
196080
(+1 from 1959)
5249
(+69 from 1959)
0.24241
195981
(-6 from 1958)
5180
(-342 from 1958)
0.23910
195875
(-10 from 1957)
5522
(-546 from 1957)
0.25626
195765
(-3 from 1956)
6068
(-64 from 1956)
0.27722
195662
(-4 from 1955)
6132
(-197 from 1955)
0.28571
195558
(-2 from 1954)
6329
(-184 from 1954)
0.30279
195456
(-1 from 1953)
6513
(-144 from 1953)
0.31477
195355
No change from 1952
6657
(+134 from 1952)
0.33248
195255
(-3 from 1951)
6523
(+56 from 1951)
0.33057
195152
(-1 from 1950)
6467
(+13 from 1950)
0.33829
195051
No change from 1949
6454
(-167 from 1949)
0.35485
194951
(-2 from 1948)
6621
(-445 from 1948)
0.36742
194849
(-1 from 1947)
7066
(-494 from 1947)
0.39635
194748
(-5 from 1946)
7560
(+636 from 1946)
0.40698
194643
(-3 from 1945)
6924
(+741 from 1945)
0.41954
194540
(-1 from 1944)
6183
(-351 from 1944)
0.45084
194439
(-1 from 1943)
6534
(-397 from 1943)
0.47036
194338
(+4 from 1942)
6931
(+620 from 1942)
0.47648
194242
(-3 from 1941)
6311
(+362 from 1941)
0.44813
194139
(+3 from 1940)
5949
(+385 from 1940)
0.47408
194042
No change from 1939
5564
(+409 from 1939)
0.46907
193942
(-1 from 1938)
5155
(+113 from 1938)
0.45486
193841
(-1 from 1937)
5042
(+154 from 1937)
0.44365
193740
(+1 from 1936)
4888
(+70 from 1936)
0.44695
193641
(-1 from 1935)
4818
(-120 from 1935)
0.45269
193540
(-5 from 1934)
4938
(-167 from 1934)
0.46167
193435
(+4 from 1933)
5105
(+200 from 1933)
0.48073
193339
(-1 from 1932)
4905
(-333 from 1932)
0.48079
193238
(-3 from 1931)
5238
(-250 from 1931)
0.48751
193135
(-2 from 1930)
5488
(-430 from 1930)
0.51301
193033
(+2 from 1929)
5918
(+106 from 1929)
0.52394
192935
(-1 from 1928)
5812
(-417 from 1928)
0.52473
192834
No change from 1927
6229
(-158 from 1927)
0.54585
192734
No change from 1926
6387
(+163 from 1926)
0.54969
192634
(-2 from 1925)
6224
(-152 from 1925)
0.54337
192532
(-1 from 1924)
6376
(-181 from 1924)
0.55375
192431
(+1 from 1923)
6557
(+241 from 1923)
0.56089
192332
No change from 1922
6316
(-142 from 1922)
0.55782
192232
No change from 1921
6458
(-87 from 1921)
0.57394
192132
No change from 1920
6545
(+190 from 1920)
0.57517
192032
No change from 1919
6355
(+385 from 1919)
0.57732
191932
No change from 1918
5970
(-241 from 1918)
0.58799
191832
(+1 from 1917)
6211
(+625 from 1917)
0.59228
191733
No change from 1916
5586
(+259 from 1916)
0.58230
191633
(-1 from 1915)
5327
(+275 from 1915)
0.57699
191532
No change from 1914
5052
(+1200 from 1914)
0.57349
191432
No change from 1913
3852
(+762 from 1913)
0.56372
191332
(-1 from 1912)
3090
(+499 from 1912)
0.57623
191231
No change from 1911
2591
(+1197 from 1911)
0.57392
191131
(-2 from 1910)
1394
(+127 from 1910)
0.57748
191029
(-1 from 1909)
1267
(+132 from 1909)
0.60763
190928
(-2 from 1908)
1135
(+38 from 1908)
0.64174
190826
(-2 from 1907)
1097
(-31 from 1907)
0.65939
190724
No change from 1906
1128
(+104 from 1906)
0.71129
190624
No change from 1905
1024
(+8 from 1905)
0.71079
190524
(-3 from 1904)
1016
(-107 from 1904)
0.70933
190421
(+1 from 1903)
1123
(+148 from 1903)
0.81081
190322
No change from 1902
975
(-27 from 1902)
0.75393
190222
(-2 from 1901)
1002
(+85 from 1901)
0.75480
190120
(+1 from 1900)
917
(-298 from 1900)
0.79331
190021
(-1 from 1899)
1215
(+303 from 1899)
0.74943
189920
No change from 1898
912
(-137 from 1898)
0.79171
189820
(-1 from 1897)
1049
(+50 from 1897)
0.79410
189719
No change from 1896
999
(-28 from 1896)
0.81924
189619
No change from 1895
1027
(-1 from 1895)
0.79569
189519
(-1 from 1894)
1028
(+10 from 1894)
0.81174
189418
No change from 1893
1018
(+99 from 1893)
0.81510
189318
No change from 1892
919
(-129 from 1892)
0.75925
189218
No change from 1891
1048
(+210 from 1891)
0.79725
189118
No change from 1890
838
(-103 from 1890)
0.76694
189018
No change from 1889
941
(+53 from 1889)
0.78613
188918
(+2 from 1888)
888
(+32 from 1888)
0.74602
188820
No change from 1887
856
(+130 from 1887)
0.65893
188720
No change from 1886
726
(-41 from 1886)
0.66416
188620
(+4 from 1885)
767
(+76 from 1885)
0.64432
188524
(+2 from 1884)
691
(+11 from 1884)
0.59597
188426
(+4 from 1883)
680
(+124 from 1883)
0.55403
188330
(+3 from 1882)
556
(+35 from 1882)
0.49433
188233
(+1 from 1881)
521
(+81 from 1881)
0.42694
188134
(+3 from 1880)
440
No change from 1880
0.40637
188037
First SSA data recorded
440
First SSA data recorded
0.37162

American States Popularity Rankings for Roy

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#5462021#5822022#5792023

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#4122021#4892022#4132023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#4342021#4652022#5732023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#5292021#4772022#5542023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#10052021#9282022#5502023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#8402021#5942022#5812023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#6202021#4652022#8172023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#6072021#9152022#6162023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#8472021#6102022#4742023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#5702020#6472021#7662023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#5302021#6892022#9472023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#5142021#5822022#7582023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#6082021#8102022#5042023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#5852020#7442021#8682023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#3922021#5332022#7822023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#9162020#9142021#6362022

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#5312014#5292017#6092020

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#5542021#5282022#5752023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#5982016#5282017#6042021

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#3662015#3792016#3342020

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#6892021#8282022#6952023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#6052020#7912021#4762022

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#7642021#6642022#4102023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#5472021#6422022#4312023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#5432021#3762022#3322023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#8092020#4732021#7522022

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#4472021#4102022#4602023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#5152021#4432022#4152023

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#5452020#6422021#3242023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#6222021#7872022#7752023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#6242019#4472020#6332022

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#6722021#6722022#8962023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#3252021#5802022#4282023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#4822018#4872022#3222023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2292001#3272011#2372021

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#2671999#4212004#3932007

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#5202006#4032017#5702022

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#2632018#1672022#2652023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#4562021#6022022#7392023

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#1701971#1181973#1972015

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#4552018#2762022#4002023

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#1451976#1601977#1831981

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2901992#2771994#2642012

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#1481986#1891988#1881989

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#1271983#1521985#1301995

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1371984#1421985#2202001

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#1081970#951971#1281984

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#4432019#3872020#4912022

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#1241974#1681988#1671990

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#1651993#1931996#2322017

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1021979#1491983#1441987

Popularity Rankings for Roy in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#782013#822016

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#991955

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#2802001#3052004#2652005

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#4032015#4262016#2742018

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#3212003#4362006#5002012

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#3282022#3602023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#3612021#3982022#4232023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#4092015#3832016#4452020

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#4162020#4182021#4242023

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#4592020#5722022#4722023

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#4692014#7322015#5992017

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#7182020#4862021#5622022

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#5872020#5592021#5982022

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#9182010#8182017#9072021

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Roy a Name for Boys or Girls?

Roy, meaning “red-haired” and “king,” is generally used for boys.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Roy

Roy in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

  • Roy Orbison (Rock Singer, 1936–1988): An iconic singer-songwriter known for hits like "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Crying."
  • Roy Keane (Soccer Player, 1971): An Irish footballer renowned for his leadership on the field and his tenure with Manchester United.
  • Roy Lichtenstein (Pop Artist, 1923–1997): A leading figure in the pop art movement, famous for his comic strip-inspired paintings.
  • Roy Scheider (Actor, 1932–2008): An American actor best known for his role as Chief Brody in the film "Jaws."
  • Roy Acuff (Country Singer, 1903–1992): An influential country music artist often called the "King of Country Music."
  • Roy Hobbs ("The Natural," 1984 Film): A baseball player with a mysterious past who aims to make a comeback in the major leagues.
  • Roy Batty ("Blade Runner," 1982 Film): A rogue replicant who leads a group of fugitive androids in search of extended life.
  • Roy Trenneman ("The IT Crowd," 2006 TV Series): An IT technician with a laid-back attitude and a quirky sense of humor.
  • Roy Mustang ("Fullmetal Alchemist," 2001 Anime Series): A state alchemist known for his mastery of flame alchemy and his ambition to become Führer.
  • Roy Harper ("Arrow," 2012 TV Series): A skilled archer and vigilante who becomes Arsenal, a member of Team Arrow.
  • Roy (Utah, USA): A city in Weber County, Utah, with a population of around 39,300, known for its community events and proximity to Hill Aerospace Museum .
  • Roy (Washington, USA): A small town in Pierce County, offering a quiet rural lifestyle and a close-knit community .
  • Roy (New Mexico, USA): A village in Harding County, notable for its historical significance and small-town charm .
  • Roy (Montana, USA): A hamlet in Fergus County, known for its agricultural background and scenic landscapes .

Similar Names to Roy

Sibling Names for Roy