Guy
Guy: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡaɪ/
Meaning and origin of Guy
Root meaning: “wood”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
- A male given name from Hebrew.
Etymology
From Old French Gui, from a Frankish form of Proto-West Germanic *Widō (compare Old Dutch Wido), a short form of names beginning with the element *widu (“wood”), from Proto-Germanic *widuz; see for example modern German Witold and Old Saxon Widukind. Cognate with Italian Guido and thus a doublet of Guido. More at wood.
How popular is Guy?
Since 1880, 470 girls and 90,632 boys in the U.S. have been named Guy (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1267 in 1890. Its highest rank for boys was #65 in 1892. In 2025, 103 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Guy
Sister and brother names that share Guy's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Guy FAQ
What does the name Guy mean?
Guy traces back to a root meaning "wood". A male given name from the Germanic languages. A male given name from Hebrew. From Old French Gui, from a Frankish form of Proto-West Germanic *Widō (compare Old Dutch Wido), a short form of names beginning with the element *widu (“wood”), from Proto-Germanic *widuz; see for example modern German Witold and Old Saxon Widukind. Cognate with Italian Guido and thus a doublet of Guido. More at wood.
What is the origin of the name Guy?
Guy is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Guy?
Since 1880, 470 girls and 90,632 boys in the U.S. have been named Guy (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1267 in 1890. Its highest rank for boys was #65 in 1892. In 2025, 103 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Guy a boy or girl name?
Guy is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 470 girls and 90,632 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.