Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Royal
UnisexEnglish, French· “royal, of a king”
- Meaning
- royal, of a king
- Origin
- English, French
- Pronunciation
- ROY-uhl
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #476
- US babies 2025
- 640
- Best rank
- #279 (1889)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Royal
Royal is an English and French name that means “royal, of a king”.
Royal is simply the English word meaning of or befitting a king or queen. It came into English from Old French and ultimately from the Latin regalis, from rex, king. As a given name, Royal has a long history in the United States, where it was used for boys in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and it has recently returned for both boys and girls. It belongs to the family of word names with aspirational meanings, like Noble and King. The name sounds dignified yet easygoing. Roy is a natural nickname, and it pairs well with classic middle names.
Popularity over time
Royal 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 104 different years. Its best national rank was #279 in 1889, and the most babies received it in 2021, when 888 were named Royal. In 2025, 640 babies were named Royal, and it ranked #476 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #423 in 1920, #661 in 1950, #1,310 in 1980, #2,043 in 2000, #1,226 in 2010, and #476 in 2025. Of the 20,072 US boys named Royal since records began, 23% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 4,361 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Armani, Kamari, Reign, Remy, and Memphis.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Royal ranked highest in Georgia, Maryland, and Nevada.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | #257 | 49 |
| Maryland | #317 | 18 |
| Nevada | #320 | 10 |
| Oklahoma | #325 | 15 |
| North Carolina | #328 | 36 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Royal is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 30% of US babies named Royal were girls and 70% were boys.
Royal is usually pronounced ROY-uhl, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-al”.
Middle names for Royal
A few middle names that flow with Royal: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Royal
Similar names
Parker Unisex
PAHR-kur
“park keeper” · English
#102
Corbin Boy
KOR-bin
“little raven” · French
#512
Tyson Boy
TY-suhn
“firebrand; or son of Dye” · English
#531
Journey Girl
JUR-nee
“a trip, a day's travel” · English
#411
Macy Girl
MAY-see
“from a French place name” · English
#720
Saylor Girl
SAY-lur
“sailor; possibly 'dancer'” · English
#217
Macie Girl
MAY-see
“variant of Macy, a surname” · English
#438
Porter Boy
POR-tur
“gatekeeper, or carrier of loads” · English
#560
Scarlet Girl
SKAHR-luht
“bright red” · English
#510
Fletcher Boy
FLECH-er
“arrow maker” · English
#547
Louie Boy
LOO-ee
“famous warrior” · English
#596
Pascal Boy
pas-KAL
“of Easter” · French
#3,636
Lists that include Royal
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Royal mean?
Royal is an English and French name that means “royal, of a king”.
What is the origin of the name Royal?
Royal has English, French, and Latin roots. Royal is simply the English word meaning of or befitting a king or queen.
Is Royal a popular name?
Yes. Royal ranked #476 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Royal a boy or girl name?
Royal is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 30% of US babies named Royal were girls and 70% were boys.
How do you pronounce Royal?
Royal is usually pronounced ROY-uhl. 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