Roney

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROH-nee /ˈroʊ.ni/Medium

Meaning: Roney is a transferred surname, a variant of Rooney, anglicized from the Irish 'O Ruanaidh' - 'descendant of Ruanaidh', a byname meaning 'champion' or 'hero' (sometimes 'red-complexioned'). It moved into American first-name use in the surname-name tradition and appears across a long span.Low

In 30 seconds: Roney is an Irish surname-name from a byname meaning 'champion' or 'hero'. It reads as a friendly, long-running vintage choice.

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Origin LowIrish

MeaningRoney is a transferred surname, a variant of Rooney, anglicized from the Irish 'O Ruanaidh' - 'descendant of Ruanaidh', a byname meaning 'champion' or 'hero' (sometimes 'red-complexioned'). It moved into American first-name use in the surname-name tradition and appears across a long span.

U.S. rank (2022)#10629 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1950

Total births (all-time)≈ 883

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Roney is a form of Rooney, from Irish O Ruanaidh ('descendant of the champion'). Carried to America by Irish families, it entered occasional first-name use, and its warm, two-syllable sound kept it in scattered service as a given name across many decades.

Recorded thinly over a very long span, it saw a modest crest around 1950 with only a couple dozen boys a year. Because it appears in small numbers across generations rather than one sharp era, Roney reads as a low-key, enduring Irish surname-name rather than a name tied to a single decade.

Did you know? The Rooney and Roney surnames come from an Irish byname for a 'champion' or 'hero' - a warrior's nickname turned family name.

Overall data confidence 55%

References - Rooney / O Ruanaidh — Irish byname 'champion, hero'

Variations

RooneyRowneyRony

Nicknames

RonRoy

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Roney mean?

Roney is a form of the Irish surname Rooney, from a byname meaning 'champion' or 'hero'.

How do you pronounce Roney?

It's said ROH-nee /ˈroʊ.ni/, two syllables.

Is Roney a boy or girl name?

Roney is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Roney?

Roney has always been rare, a quiet Irish surname-name used across many decades.