Roy

Roy is a masculine given name and a surname used in various cultures. Etymology: the given-name Roy most commonly derives from the Old French roi, meaning “king,” and has been adopted in English-speaking regions since the 19th century. In some cases it is used as a shortened form of Leroy, a French-origin name also associated with the notion of kingship. As a surname, Roy appears independently in multiple linguistic and cultural contexts, including South Asia where it is a common Bengali surname. The name’s usage in different regions reflects a mix of linguistic borrowings and local naming traditions.

Given name usage: Roy has been used across different fields and eras. Notable people with the given name include Roy Orbison, the American singer and songwriter known for his distinctive voice and hits in the 1960s; Roy Cohn, the American lawyer and political figure; Roy Moore, the American politician and judge; Roy Hodgson, the English football manager; Roy Keane, the Irish footballer and manager; and Roy Williams, the American basketball coach. The name is also found among writers, actors, and scientists, reflecting its broad adoption in English-speaking countries.

Surname and geography: Roy functions as a surname in many cultures and appears in various spellings. It is also a toponym in several places. Notable geographic instances include Roy, Utah; Roy, Washington; and Roy, Alberta, in Canada.

See also: Roy (disambiguation) for other uses of the term.