Roy
Boy name · #525 in 2025 · Uniqueness 51/100
Roy ranks #525 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 570 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #533, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,158 boys born in 2025 was named Roy.
Babies named Roy per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Roy first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 440 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1947, when 7,560 boys were named Roy — good for #48 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Roy against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Roy in class?
Roy scores 51 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Roy is most common
Geography matters for names, and Roy is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Roys were TX (69), CA (67), NY (35), FL (33), PA (23). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Roy
Statistically, parents drawn to Roy tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ray, Leroy, Tommy, Johnny, and Ronald.
RayLeroyTommyJohnnyRonaldJimmyDannyJay
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Roy | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 570 | #525 |
| 2024 | 553 | #541 |
| 2023 | 526 | #556 |
| 2022 | 509 | #576 |
| 2021 | 521 | #551 |
| 2020 | 487 | #572 |
| 2019 | 494 | #565 |
| 2018 | 520 | #541 |
| 2017 | 531 | #533 |
| 2016 | 539 | #540 |
| 2015 | 534 | #533 |
| 2014 | 525 | #530 |
| 2013 | 508 | #524 |
| 2012 | 466 | #558 |
| 2011 | 443 | #566 |
| 2010 | 457 | #553 |
| 2009 | 473 | #557 |
| 2008 | 552 | #496 |
| 2007 | 536 | #495 |
| 2006 | 599 | #451 |
| 2005 | 531 | #470 |
| 2004 | 543 | #466 |
| 2003 | 570 | #440 |
| 2002 | 566 | #439 |
| 2001 | 573 | #427 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Roy a popular boy name?
Roy ranked #525 among boys in 2025 with 570 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #533.
When was the name Roy most popular?
Roy peaked in 1947, when 7,560 American boys received the name (ranked #48 that year). Since 1947 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Roy?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,158 newborn American boys was named Roy. It scores 51/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.