Roy
A boys’ name of Old French origin, meaning king.
How Roy has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #536 |
| 2016 | #540 |
| 2017 | #535 |
| 2018 | #540 |
| 2019 | #565 |
| 2020 | #574 |
| 2021 | #551 |
| 2022 | #577 |
| 2023 | #553 |
| 2024 | #541 |
| 2025 | #525 |
Roy by the numbers
In 2025, 48 babies in England and Wales were named Roy. In the US, 522 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 7,562 babies in 1947, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1895, about 1 in 120 American boys born that year was called Roy.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Roy. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Roryred king1,760 in England and Wales (2025)
- Reyking; a form of Reyes377 in the US (2017)
- Raya form of Raymond; counsel warrior64 in England and Wales (2025)
- Romyrosemary; a form of Rosemary or diminutive of Romilda282 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ronya form of ronald, meaning ruler's advisor50 in the US (2017)
- Ronexalted father; a form of Ronald10 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Roy
Names that are said the same way as Roy, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean a king or ruler
Like Roy, each of these has a king or ruler in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Henryruler of the home2,295 in England and Wales (2025)
- Averyruler of the elves10,365 in the US (2017)
- Ryanlittle king; descendent of rian8,422 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Arthurbear; the legendary king3,211 in England and Wales (2025)
- Reaganlittle king3,211 in the US (2017)