Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Guy
BoyFrench, Germanic· “uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide'”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide' (origin disputed)
- Origin
- French, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- GY
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,637
- US babies 2025
- 103
- Best rank
- #65 (1892)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Guy
Guy is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to French and Germanic roots.
Guy came to England with the Normans, but its origin is uncertain: it may come from a Germanic word meaning 'wood' or from one meaning 'wide', and scholars have not settled the question. The medieval romance hero Guy of Warwick made it popular in England. Its most notorious bearer was Guy Fawkes of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, whose effigies, called guys, eventually gave English the everyday word for a man. As a first name Guy is short, crisp and quietly sophisticated, and in French it is pronounced GHEE.
Other spellings with the same sound: Gae.
Popularity over time
Guy has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 126 different years. Its best national rank was #65 in 1892, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 2,302 were named Guy. In 2025, 103 babies were named Guy, and it ranked #1,637 nationally. That is 34% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #154 in 1920, #179 in 1950, #396 in 1980, #801 in 2000, #1,165 in 2010, and #1,637 in 2025. Of the 90,632 US boys named Guy since records began, 21% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 15,356 babies. Since 2010, 2,210 more have been named Guy.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Daryl, Ted, Glen, Gerard, and Randal.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Guy ranked highest in Utah, Oregon, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #647 | 6 |
| Oregon | #650 | 5 |
| California | #1382 | 13 |
| Texas | #1434 | 13 |
| New York | #1475 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Guy is usually pronounced GY, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with G and ends in “-uy”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Gae.
Middle names for Guy
A few middle names that flow with Guy: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Guy
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Lists that include Guy
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Guy mean?
Guy is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly 'wood' or 'wide'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to French and Germanic roots.
What is the origin of the name Guy?
Guy has French and Germanic roots. Guy came to England with the Normans, but its origin is uncertain: it may come from a Germanic word meaning 'wood' or from one meaning 'wide', and scholars have not settled the question.
Is Guy a popular name?
Not especially. Guy ranked #1,637 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Guy a boy or girl name?
Guy is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Guy?
Guy is usually pronounced GY. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings