Royal

♂ Boy

Pronounced ROY-ul /ˈrɔɪ.əl/High

Meaning: From the English word 'royal,' derived from Old French 'roial' and Latin 'regalis' meaning kingly or of the king; used directly as a given name reflecting aspirational nobility and regal statusHigh

In 30 seconds: Royal is a bold, aspirational word name meaning kingly and regal, used for both boys and girls but given here as a boys' name. Confident and distinctive, it fits the modern American taste for powerful one- and two-syllable names.

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Origin HighEnglish, French

MeaningFrom the English word 'royal,' derived from Old French 'roial' and Latin 'regalis' meaning kingly or of the king; used directly as a given name reflecting aspirational nobility and regal status

U.S. rank (2025)#476 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births640 boys (0.04% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,053

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

Royal derives from the English word meaning 'of the king,' from Old French roial and ultimately Latin regalis (kingly). The word has been in English since at least the 14th century. As a given name, it belongs to the American tradition of aspirational word names that project status and dignity.

Royal has been used as a given name in the United States since at least the 19th century, but gained significant momentum in the 2010s as part of the royal-title naming trend. It is used for both boys and girls, and now ranks in the U.S. top 500 for both sexes simultaneously.

Did you know? Royal is now a genuine naming trend alongside King, Queen, Prince, and Reign — together forming what naming experts call the 'royalty cluster,' a group of title and status names that have surged in popularity since the 2010s.

Overall data confidence 93%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity dataBehind the Name — Royal — etymology notes

Variations

RoyaleRoyall

Nicknames

Roy

Famous Bearers

★Royal Dano (1922–1994)
American character actor whose 46-year Hollywood career included notable roles in Moby Dick (1956) and Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry (1955), frequently cast as cowboys, villains, and Abraham Lincoln.

If you like Royal…

King— shares the royal title word-name tradition with the same bold aspiration

Prince— another royal title used as a given name with the same confident energy

Reign— shares the regal word-name category used for both sexes

Duke— equally noble title used as a given name in the same tradition

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Frequently Asked

What does Royal mean?

Royal means 'of the king' or 'kingly,' from Old French 'roial' and Latin 'regalis.' It is used as an aspirational word name suggesting nobility and regal status.

How do you pronounce Royal?

Royal is pronounced ROY-ul /ˈrɔɪ.əl/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Royal a popular boys' name?

Royal has been in the U.S. top 500 for boys and is growing, part of the broader royal-title naming trend that includes King, Prince, and Reign.

Is Royal used for girls too?

Yes. Royal is genuinely unisex and appears in both boys' and girls' naming charts, though it is given here as a boys' name per our data.