Roy

Roy derives chiefly from the Scottish Gaelic word ruadh, meaning red, originally used as a byname or nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It was also influenced by and sometimes merged with the Old French and Norman word roi, meaning king, which reinforced its use as a given name in English-speaking countries. The name gained broad popularity in the English-speaking world during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, carried by figures such as the American folk hero Roy Rogers. Related names and cognates include Rory, Roy's closer Gaelic equivalent, and the French name Leroy, which incorporates the same roi element.