Royal
Royal: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Royal
Root meaning: “rye”
- A male given name from English from the surname
- A male given name from the word "royal".
Etymology
A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge (“rye”) + hyll (“hill”), and Royle, rā (“roe”) + hyll (“hill”).
How popular is Royal?
Since 1880, 4,322 girls and 20,072 boys in the U.S. have been named Royal (18% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #629 in 2016. Its highest rank for boys was #279 in 1889. In 2025 it ranked #476 for boys, with 765 babies given the name.
Names similar to Royal
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Royal FAQ
What does the name Royal mean?
Royal traces back to a root meaning "rye". A male given name from English from the surname A male given name from the word "royal". A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge (“rye”) + hyll (“hill”), and Royle, rā (“roe”) + hyll (“hill”).
What is the origin of the name Royal?
Royal is listed as a name of English from the surname origin.
How popular is the name Royal?
Since 1880, 4,322 girls and 20,072 boys in the U.S. have been named Royal (18% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #629 in 2016. Its highest rank for boys was #279 in 1889. In 2025 it ranked #476 for boys, with 765 babies given the name.
Is Royal a boy or girl name?
Royal is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (4,322 girls and 20,072 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.