How to say it
ROY
rɔɪ
Masculine
Roy
Red; king
What it means
From the Gaelic ruadh, 'red,' and read by folk etymology as the French roi, 'king.'
Roy comes from the Scottish Gaelic ruadh, 'red,' originally a nickname for a red-haired person, as in the outlaw hero Rob Roy. Its sound also nods to the French roi, 'king,' giving it a regal echo. A sturdy mid-century classic. Said ROY.
How to spell Roy
The standard spelling is Roy. Common variants include Roi, Roye, Ruadh, but Roy is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #18 in 1889, currently #525 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
From the Gaelic for 'red'; echoes the French roi, 'king.'
- Pop culture
The Scottish outlaw Rob Roy.
Who's worn it
- Roy Orbison American singer and songwriter known for Oh, Pretty Woman
Spelling variants
- Roi
- Roye
- Ruadh
Names with the same feeling
See Roy from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Roy mean?
- From the Gaelic ruadh, 'red,' and read by folk etymology as the French roi, 'king.'
- What does Roy mean in Scottish?
- In Scottish, Roy means "Red; king." Roy comes from the Scottish Gaelic ruadh, 'red,' originally a nickname for a red-haired person, as in the outlaw hero Rob Roy. Its sound also nods to the French roi, 'king,' giving it a regal echo. A sturdy mid-century classic. Said ROY.
- How do you pronounce Roy?
- Roy is pronounced rɔɪ. Say it as ROY, with the stress on the "roy" syllable.
- How do you spell Roy?
- The standard spelling is Roy. Common spelling variants include Roi, Roye, Ruadh.
- Is Roy a boy or girl name?
- Roy is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Roy?
- Roy ranked #525 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.