Boy name · Old French
Leroy
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: the kingLeroy is a boy's name that comes from Old French and means "the king". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- The king
- Origin
- Old French
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #888 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Leroy
As a boy's name, Leroy comes from Old French and means "the king". It is used in English.
Leroy is also a surname: the 4,664th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 7,374 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Leroy on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Leroy on 4 lists.
“A cool, easygoing goose”
From Porch goose names, boy porch goose names
“The king; Old French. From French le roi; common since the 1800s”
From Old man names, old boy names from the 1900s to 1920s
“From French le roi, meaning the king”
From Orange cat names, orange cat names for boys
“The king; Old French le roi, a name with a royal ring”
From Strong boy names, powerful boy names for kings and leaders
How popular is Leroy?
- US rank in 2025
- #888
- 269 babies, 157 per million boys
- Best rank
- #50 in 1907
- Most babies: 3,922 in 1924
- Babies since 1880
- At least 200,981
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 1,437 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,230 per million |
| 1900s | 3,167 per million |
| 1910s | 3,187 per million |
| 1920s | 3,437 per million |
| 1930s | 3,431 per million |
| 1940s | 2,275 per million |
| 1950s | 1,216 per million |
| 1960s | 790 per million |
| 1970s | 509 per million |
| 1980s | 303 per million |
| 1990s | 182 per million |
| 2000s | 108 per million |
| 2010s | 116 per million |
| 2020s | 154 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #922 | #927 | #875 | #955 | #923 | #906 | #860 | #872 | #864 | #888 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Leroy
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ReaganLittle king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- AbdulmalikServant of the King (Arabic, boy)
- AdaezePrincess, king's daughter (Igbo, girl)
- BaltasarBel protect the king (Akkadian, boy)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- EmyrKing, lord (Welsh, boy)
- FlaithríKing of princes (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GökhanKing of the sky (Turkish, boy)
- GolshahFlower of the king (Persian, girl)
Middle names for Leroy
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old French
- BellamyBeautiful friend (Old French, unisex)
- GrantGreat, large (Old French, boy)
- LyleIsland (Old French, boy)
- WallaceForeigner, Welshman (Old French, boy)
- AlgernonHaving a mustache (Old French, boy)
- ArcherBowman (Old French, boy)
- BaileySteward, bailiff (Old French, unisex)
- CorbinRaven (Old French, boy)
- CurtisCourteous (Old French, boy)
- FletcherArrow maker (Old French, boy)
Leroy: common questions
What does the name Leroy mean?
Leroy comes from Old French and means "the king".
Is Leroy a boy or girl name?
Leroy is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Leroy come from?
Leroy comes from Old French and means "the king". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Leroy?
Leroy ranked #888 in the US in 2025, with 269 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Leroy?
Names spelled like Leroy include Leo, Leon, Lenny and Liron.
What middle names go with Leroy?
Middle names that flow well with Leroy include Clark, Cooper, Darrell, Eugene and Forest. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.