Boy name · Scottish Gaelic
Roy
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: redRoy is a boy's name that comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "red". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Red
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #525 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Roy
As a boy's name, Roy comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "red". It is used in English and Scottish.
Roy is also a surname: the 606th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 54,089 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Roy on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Roy on 4 lists.
“Gaelic for red; Rogers made it the King of the Cowboys”
From Redneck names for boys, cowboy names for boys
“Red; Scottish Gaelic. Nickname of Scottish outlaw Rob MacGregor”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“Red; Scottish Gaelic. Nickname of Scottish outlaw Rob MacGregor”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
“From Gaelic ruadh, red, first a nickname for red hair.”
From Scottish boy names, highland names in English spelling
How popular is Roy?
- US rank in 2025
- #525
- 570 babies, 334 per million boys
- Best rank
- #18 in 1889
- Most babies: 7,560 in 1947
- Babies since 1880
- At least 408,638
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 5,993 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 8,571 per million |
| 1900s | 7,832 per million |
| 1910s | 6,043 per million |
| 1920s | 5,741 per million |
| 1930s | 4,873 per million |
| 1940s | 4,410 per million |
| 1950s | 3,059 per million |
| 1960s | 2,079 per million |
| 1970s | 1,353 per million |
| 1980s | 775 per million |
| 1990s | 442 per million |
| 2000s | 280 per million |
| 2010s | 267 per million |
| 2020s | 306 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #540 | #533 | #541 | #565 | #572 | #551 | #576 | #556 | #541 | #525 |
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 Roy
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- ReidRed-haired (Old English, boy)
- RowanLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- RufinaRed-haired (Latin, girl)
- AkaneDeep red, madder (Japanese, girl)
- CheyenneRed speakers (Lakota, girl)
- FlannBlood red (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FlannaitLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- FlannánLittle red one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GaranceMadder plant, used for red dye (French, girl)
- PhoenixDark red, crimson (Greek, unisex)
Middle names for Roy
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Scottish Gaelic
- AngusOne strength (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- BowieYellow (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CameronCrooked nose (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CampbellCrooked mouth (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonaldWorld ruler (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Roy: common questions
What does the name Roy mean?
Roy comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "red".
Is Roy a boy or girl name?
Roy is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Roy come from?
Roy comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "red". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Roy?
Roy ranked #525 in the US in 2025, with 570 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Roy?
Names spelled like Roy include Rory, Ray, Roi, Rom and Ron.
What middle names go with Roy?
Middle names that flow well with Roy include Alexander, Bradley, Brooks, Lance and Nathaniel. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.