The story behind Roy
From various sources: * Anglo-Norman roy (“king”) a variant of Old French roi, from Latin rēx, rēgem from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (“ruler, king”). Doublet of Rey. * Scottish Gaelic ruadh (“red, red-haired”) from Old Irish rúad, from Proto-Celtic *roudos from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ-. * Anglicisation of Bengali রায় (raẏ, surname). Doublet of Rai, rex, and rajah.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɹoɪ̯/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: [ˈɹʷoɪ̯]
- English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɹɔɪ̯/
- English; dialect unspecified: [ˈɹʷɔɪ̯]
Popularity
Roy ranked #525 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Roy
Guy
From Old French Gui, from a Frankish form of Proto-West Germanic *Widō (compare Old Dutch Wido), a short form of names beginning with the element *widu (“wood”), from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jay
Borrowed from Hindi जय (jay, literally “victory”). Borrowed from Sanskrit जय (jaya, “victory”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Joy
From the noun joy, first used by Puritans in the 17th century. Borrowed from English Joy.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Kay
A female given name, a short form of Katherine and other female names beginning with a "K"; popular as a middle name.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sky
From sky. As a surname, a translation of German Himmel and an anglicization of Ashkenazic surnames ending in -sky.
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Troy
From Latin Troia, from Ancient Greek Τροία (Troía). Borrowed from English Troy.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Roy
Ewan
From Scottish Gaelic Eòghan. Not related to Iwan and Evan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ewen
A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, variant of Ewan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abed
From Arabic عَابِد (ʕābid, “servant, worshipper”)
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Roy
Boyd
From Scottish Gaelic, either buidhe (“blond, yellow, fair”), or a habitational surname from the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ewan
From Scottish Gaelic Eòghan. Not related to Iwan and Evan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Ewen
A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, variant of Ewan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection