Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Lloyd
BoyWelsh· “grey”
- Meaning
- grey
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- LOYD
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,549
- US babies 2025
- 111
- Best rank
- #51 (1918)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Lloyd
Lloyd is a Welsh name that means “grey”.
Lloyd comes from the Welsh word llwyd, meaning "grey," and began as a nickname and surname for someone with grey hair or grey clothing. It became a given name in the nineteenth century and was widely used in the first half of the twentieth, carried by figures such as the actor Lloyd Bridges. The Welsh ll, a distinctive sound in that language, is pronounced as a plain l in English.
Other spellings with the same sound: Loyd.
Popularity over time
Lloyd 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 123 different years. Its best national rank was #51 in 1918, the same year it reached its highest count of 3,742 babies. In 2025, 111 babies were named Lloyd, and it ranked #1,549 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #58 in 1920, #127 in 1950, #335 in 1980, #921 in 2000, #1,338 in 2010, and #1,549 in 2025. Of the 160,990 US boys named Lloyd since records began, 21% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 23,799 babies. Since 2010, 1,802 more have been named Lloyd.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Woodrow, Lester, Elmer, Sam, and Wilbur.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lloyd ranked highest in Kentucky, Utah, and Minnesota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | #679 | 6 |
| Utah | #766 | 5 |
| Minnesota | #768 | 6 |
| Washington | #954 | 6 |
| Ohio | #1082 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Lloyd is usually pronounced LOYD, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with L and ends in “-yd”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Loyd.
Middle names for Lloyd
A few middle names that flow with Lloyd: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lloyd
Similar names
Floyd Boy
FLOYD
“gray” · Welsh
#2,237
Boyd Boy
BOYD
“from a Scottish surname, meaning uncertain” · Scottish
#1,959
Chad Boy
CHAD
“uncertain; possibly 'battle'” · Old English
#1,701
Vaughn Boy
VAWN
“little, junior” · Welsh
#1,153
Zayd Boy
ZAYD
“growth, increase” · Arabic
#633
Wynn Unisex
WIHN
“fair, blessed; also 'joy'” · Welsh
#1,726
Neel Boy
NEEL
“blue” · Sanskrit
#1,581
Mael Boy
mah-EL
“prince, chief” · Breton
#1,104
Penn Boy
PEHN
“English surname, "enclosure" or "hill"” · English
#2,706
Blue Unisex
BLOO
“the color blue” · English
#2,648
Reed Boy
REED
“red-haired” · English
#419
Reece Unisex
REES
“ardor, enthusiasm” · Welsh
#460
Lists that include Lloyd
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lloyd mean?
Lloyd is a Welsh name that means “grey”.
What is the origin of the name Lloyd?
Lloyd has Welsh roots. Lloyd comes from the Welsh word llwyd, meaning "grey," and began as a nickname and surname for someone with grey hair or grey clothing.
Is Lloyd a popular name?
Not especially. Lloyd ranked #1,549 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Lloyd a boy or girl name?
Lloyd is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Lloyd?
Lloyd is usually pronounced LOYD. 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