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Roy

Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Roy

Roy is an Anglicization of the Scottish-Gaelic masculine personal name Ruadh meaning “red”. It is also occasionally connected with “roi” which is the French word for “king”; although traditionally the name comes to the English speaking world via the Gaelic Scots. Usage was most likely inspired by the legendary Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734). Much like Robin Hood, Rob Roy stole from the rich and gave to the poor so his story has been heavily romanticized. Although suffice it to say that the nobles and members of the gentry of Scotland weren’t exactly enamored with this outlaw since they were his targets! Rob Roy was known by his Gaelic name Raibeart Ruadh (Red Robert) because of his red hair. This illustrious Scottish Highlander was also the inspiration behind an 1817 novel by Sir Walter Scott called “Rob Roy” and a cocktail concocted in 1894 by a bartender at New York City’s Waldorf Hotel (made exclusively with Scottish whiskey). Roy became popularized as a male given name in the 19th century among English-speakers. It has since gone out of style.

All About the Baby Name – Roy

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME ROY

The Master Number Twenty-Two combines the traits of Twos and Fours into a powerful force. The references to The Master Builder and "large undertakings" serve to underscore the massive potential of this personality. They are extremely capable and therefore almost always successful. Twenty-Twos are courageous leaders, innovative thinkers, extremely wise and highly organized. As such, they are able to manifest something of major importance that will have a lasting impact on this world. Master Numbers carry with them a great sense of responsibility, so it can be a burden. However, Twenty-Twos are executors and action-takers. Further, this personality exhibits traits of the Twos, which brings sensitivity, spirituality and harmony, so their endeavors are likely to benefit mankind in some capacity.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME ROY

In America, Roy is a bit of a “wild west” name thanks to quintessential cowboy actor and singer Roy Rogers (1911-1998). There’s something rough-and-tumble about this name (also thanks to the Scottish outlaw Rob Roy). We know the name has been around in America since at least the late 1880s which is as far back as the U.S. government has been tracking naming trends. Between 1880 and 1968, Roy was a Top 100 favorite boy’s name in the country. The height of his popularity was really during the turn of the 20th century (around 1900) when Roy was one of the 25 most commonly used boy names. This name has enjoyed a lot of success in America up to the 1970s at which point Roy began his slow and steady decline on the charts. Today the name has clearly fallen from fashion. Yet there is something strong and masculine about this one syllable name that packs a lot of punch. It’s one part outlaw, two parts cowboy and three parts All-American. Roy is a good ole boy, reliable and trustworthy. It also doesn’t hurt that Roy means “king” in French. If you think Roy is too mid-century old fashioned, than consider the slightly more modern Royce. If you like the “red” etymology for your red-headed or “fiery” tempered baby boy, than you might be interested in some of his crimson brothers: Rohan, Rowan, Russell or Reid.

Quick Facts

ON ROY

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

1

RANKING POPULARITY:

524

PRONUNCIATION:

ROY

SIMPLE MEANING:

Red

Characteristics

OF ROY

The Master Builder

Leader

Large Undertakings

Confidence

Discipline

Organization

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Roy

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ROY

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Roy

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ROY

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Roy

Popular Songs

ON ROY

Hats Off to (Roy) Harpera song by Led ZeppelinSunflowers for Alfred Roya song by Mariah CareyRoy Walkera song by Belle and SebastianRoy Rogersa song by Elton JohnRapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)a song by Jim CroceHappy Roya song by the 77sEvil Roya song by Earth Wind and Fire

Famous People

NAMED ROY

Roy Acuff (country musician) Roy Campanella (baseball player) Roy Clark (country musician) Roy Disney (co-founder of Disney) 1930–2009) Roy Drusky (country music singer) Roy Face (baseball player) Roy Firestone (sports talk show host) Roy Foster (baseball player) Roy Halladay (baseball player) Roy Halston (Halston clothing design) Roy Hamilton (R&B singer) Roy Hargrove (jazz musician) Roy Hartsfield (baseball player/manager) Roy Head (singer) Roy Horn (from Siegfried & Roy) Roy Howell (baseball player) Roy Lee Jackson (baseball player) Roy Johnson (baseball coach) Roy Jones, Jr. (boxer) Roy Lichtenstein (American pop artist) Roy Masters (commentator) Roy McMillan (baseball player) Roy Orbison (singer/musician) Roy Oswalt (baseball player) Roy Rogers (born Leonard Schley, singer/actor) Roy Scheider (actor) Roy Sievers (baseball player) Roy Smalley (baseball player) Roy Staiger (baseball player) Roy Thomas (baseball player) Roy White (baseball player) Roy Wilkins (prominent civil rights activist)

Children of Famous People

NAMED ROY

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Roy

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ROY

Rob Roy was a famous Scottish folk hero known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, acquiring legendary status over the years as his tale was told and re-told. Essentially a cattleman, Rob Roy most likely rustled a good deal of his livestock. This was not looked upon as a necessarily bad thing – even the Black Watch regiment, which was formed specifically to control cattle rustling, looked the other way for enough money. In addition, Rob Roy was a Jacobite, i.e., a supporter of the restoration of the Stuart line to the throne. Other than that, the mythology is pretty much up for grabs, and many have taken the bait. It appears to have been a cattle deal gone bad that started the whole legend business, with Rob Roy resorting to the life of an outlaw after being branded as such by the Duke of Montrose, and having been stripped of his property and his living. Rob Roy took up arms against the duke, and continued to do so for many years, until being caught and imprisoned. Luckily, he was pardoned by George I, and in 1727, allowed to return home, where he lived out his final years in peace. Already the stuff of mythology by the time of his death, Rob Roy’s reputation was enhanced even further by literary works by Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe and William Wordsworth, not to mention Liam Neeson’s heroic portrayal of him in the 1995 movie. And – he has a cocktail named after him – what higher accolade?!

Rob Roy was a famous Scottish folk hero known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, acquiring legendary status over the years as his tale was told and re-told. Essentially a cattleman, Rob Roy most likely rustled a good deal of his livestock. This was not looked upon as a necessarily bad thing – even the Black Watch regiment, which was formed specifically to control cattle rustling, looked the other way for enough money. In addition, Rob Roy was a Jacobite, i.e., a supporter of the restoration of the Stuart line to the throne. Other than that, the mythology is pretty much up for grabs, and many have taken the bait. It appears to have been a cattle deal gone bad that started the whole legend business, with Rob Roy resorting to the life of an outlaw after being branded as such by the Duke of Montrose, and having been stripped of his property and his living. Rob Roy took up arms against the duke, and continued to do so for many years, until being caught and imprisoned. Luckily, he was pardoned by George I, and in 1727, allowed to return home, where he lived out his final years in peace. Already the stuff of mythology by the time of his death, Rob Roy’s reputation was enhanced even further by literary works by Sir Walter Scott, Daniel Defoe and William Wordsworth, not to mention Liam Neeson’s heroic portrayal of him in the 1995 movie. And – he has a cocktail named after him – what higher accolade?!

Roy Rogers was the enormously popular singing cowboy actor who, with his horse, Trigger, and his dog, Bullet, enamored himself to generations of children and Western fans as “King of the Cowboys”. Born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, young Roy weathered the Depression with his family, and finally took a chance on a musical career, eventually becoming part of the “Sons of the Pioneers.” His big break through came when he was hired to replace the popular Gene Autry in an oater movie in 1938, and he never looked back. Roy Rogers starred in over 100 films, many with his wife, Dale Evans, as well as headlining on television and radio shows. His name and image were licensed to numerous sideline options, including toys, games and even a restaurant franchise. When his horse, Trigger, died in 1965, Roy famously had his hide stretched over a plaster likeness and put on display in his museum (a fate which other associates of Rogers seem to have escaped). It is hard to say anything even approaching ill-willed about Roy Rogers – he appears to have been a genuinely good man, a devoted husband and father, a sincere Christian, a philanthropist and a real patriot. There aren’t too many celebrities who earn chops like those!

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