What Does the Name Roy Mean?
Roy is a boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning “red.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Roy |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic |
| Meaning | red |
| Variants | Roi, Ruaidhri |
| Popularity | Very popular in the United States in the early 20th century; now uncommon but familiar. |
The meaning and origin of Roy
The name Roy means “red” and has Scottish Gaelic origins. From the Scottish Gaelic 'ruadh' meaning red (often referring to red hair), originally a nickname. It was later associated by folk etymology with the French 'roi' meaning king.
Variants and related names
Roy is related to several other names you may recognize: Roi, Ruaidhri. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Roy?
Very popular in the United States in the early 20th century; now uncommon but familiar.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roy mean?+
The name Roy means “red” and is of Scottish Gaelic origin.
What is the origin of the name Roy?+
Roy originates from Scottish Gaelic.
Is Roy a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Roy has trended in the US over time.
Roy by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press