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Name Lineage

    The first name Royal

    A unisex name from English meaning “rye”, “hill”, “roe”.

    2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Royal means “rye”, “hill”, “roe” in English.

    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”).

    More names that mean mountain.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 12 boys were named Royal, making it the 2,014th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 12 births (#1,951).

    01020 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    139
    babies named Royal, 1996–2025
    #2,014
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Royal with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Royal at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 640 boys born in the United States were named Royal, the 476th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 888 were.

    0450900 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    24,394
    babies named Royal since 1880
    #476
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Royal

    9 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Royal Dano
      American actor (1922-1994)
    • Royal Rife
      American inventor (1888–1971)
    • Royal Harwood Frost
      American astronomer (1879-1950)
    • Royal Ivey
      American basketball player (born 1981)
    • Royal Robbins
      American rock climber (1935-2017)
    • Royal S. Copeland
      American politician (1868–1938)
    • Royal C. Johnson
      American politician (1882-1939)
    • Royal Galipeau
      Canadian politician (1947–2018)
    • Hutch Dano
      American actor, born 1992

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Royal mean?
    Royal means “rye”, “hill”, “roe” in English.
    What is the origin of the name 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”).
    How popular is the name Royal?
    In 2025, 12 boys born in England and Wales were named Royal, ranking 2,014th. Its peak was 2024, with 12 births.
    Is Royal a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 24,394 US babies named Royal since 1880, 18% were girls and 82% boys.
    When was Royal most popular?
    2021 in the United States, when 888 babies were named Royal, its highest rank at 369th.
    Is Royal also a surname?
    Yes. Royal is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.