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Roy

“Red-haired” — Scottish Gaelic origin

Boy's name · #525 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Roy has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #18 (1889) · 408,638 babies named Roy all-time · 1 in 3,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,200 boys in Puerto Rico (2025) · about 1 in 2,200 boys in Sweden (2025) · about 1 in 2,700 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 37 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Roys

• Roy J. Glauber — American theoretical physicist (1925–2018)
• Roy Orbison — American musician (1936 –1988)
• Roy Keane — Irish football manager (born 1971)
• Roy Lichtenstein — American pop artist (1923–1997)
• Roy Scheider — American actor (1932–2008)

In stories & tradition

• Roy Harper — The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure · Teen Titans
• Roy Mustang — Fullmetal Alchemist · Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
• Roy Geary — Prison Break

What Roys become

Among 2,983 notable people named Roy:

Athletes appear 1.65× more often than among typical names — e.g. Roy Makaay, Dutch footballer (born 1975).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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