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.
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–present. 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.
Spelling variants
- Roi
- Roye
- Ruadh
Names with the same feeling
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By meaning
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