Leroy
Transferred from the common French surname Leroy, meaning "the king".
Every Leroy since 1880 — 202,163 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Leroy
Leroy is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #888 in 2025 with 269 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 202,163 American babies have been named Leroy. Its peak came in 1924, when 3,948 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Leroy stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Leroy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 269 | #888 |
| 2024 | — | — | 280 | #864 |
| 2023 | — | — | 270 | #872 |
| 2022 | — | — | 281 | #860 |
| 2021 | — | — | 254 | #906 |
| 2020 | — | — | 242 | #923 |
| 2019 | — | — | 225 | #955 |
| 2018 | — | — | 250 | #875 |
| 2017 | — | — | 227 | #927 |
| 2016 | — | — | 231 | #922 |
| 2015 | — | — | 209 | #989 |
| 2014 | — | — | 191 | #1,047 |
| 2013 | — | — | 206 | #973 |
| 2012 | — | — | 227 | #915 |
| 2011 | — | — | 187 | #1,024 |
| 2010 | — | — | 220 | #919 |
| 2009 | — | — | 201 | #987 |
| 2008 | — | — | 231 | #902 |
| 2007 | — | — | 195 | #1,000 |
| 2006 | — | — | 211 | #913 |
| 2005 | — | — | 188 | #932 |
| 2004 | — | — | 223 | #809 |
| 2003 | — | — | 225 | #780 |
| 2002 | — | — | 218 | #793 |
| 2001 | — | — | 215 | #787 |
| 2000 | — | — | 252 | #698 |
| 1995 | — | — | 341 | #550 |
| 1990 | — | — | 503 | #440 |
| 1985 | 6 | #10,040 | 539 | #347 |
| 1980 | 10 | #6,564 | 699 | #293 |
| 1975 | 12 | #5,017 | 798 | #251 |
| 1970 | 7 | #6,729 | 1,170 | #215 |
| 1965 | 11 | #4,085 | 1,538 | #173 |
| 1960 | 18 | #2,949 | 1,868 | #172 |
| 1955 | 15 | #3,045 | 2,416 | #133 |
| 1950 | 27 | #1,857 | 2,835 | #102 |
| 1945 | 15 | #2,295 | 3,170 | #83 |
| 1940 | 19 | #1,871 | 3,311 | #66 |
| 1935 | 15 | #2,159 | 3,919 | #50 |
| 1930 | 39 | #1,204 | 3,802 | #53 |
| 1925 | 29 | #1,556 | 3,884 | #52 |
| 1920 | 22 | #1,857 | 3,549 | #56 |
| 1915 | 14 | #2,193 | 2,450 | #66 |
| 1910 | — | — | 733 | #50 |
| 1905 | — | — | 441 | #55 |
| 1900 | — | — | 419 | #65 |
| 1895 | — | — | 249 | #78 |
| 1890 | — | — | 236 | #74 |
| 1885 | — | — | 162 | #90 |
| 1880 | — | — | 124 | #108 |
Famous people named Leroy
- Leroy Anderson Composer · 1908–1975
- Leroy Carr Singer · 1905–1935
- Leroy Burrell Athlete · b. 1967
- Leroy Chiao Astronaut · b. 1960
- Leroy Lita Soccer player · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Leroy mean?
Transferred from the common French surname Leroy, meaning "the king".
How popular is the name Leroy in 2025?
Leroy ranked #888 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 269 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Leroy?
202,163 babies have been named Leroy in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Leroy most popular?
Leroy peaked in 1924, when 3,948 newborns received the name.
Is Leroy a boy or girl name?
Leroy is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Leroy rising or falling?
Leroy is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Leroy?
Well-known people named Leroy include Leroy Anderson (composer), Leroy Carr (singer), Leroy Burrell (athlete).