The name Cy is a shortened form of the name Cyrus, which has its origins in the Persian language and culture. The name Cyrus is derived from the ancient Persian word "kūrush," which means "throne" or "sun." This name was borne by several Persian kings, the most famous being Cyrus the Great, who ruled the Persian Empire from 559 to 530 BC.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cyrus can be found in the biblical book of Ezra, where Cyrus the Great is mentioned as the Persian king who allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple after their Babylonian captivity. This event is also recorded in the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient clay cylinder that is considered one of the earliest known declarations of human rights.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Cy or its longer form, Cyrus. One of the earliest examples is Cyrus the Younger, a Persian prince who lived in the 5th century BC and attempted to overthrow his brother Artaxerxes II for the Persian throne. Another famous bearer of the name was Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, who ruled from 559 to 530 BC and is renowned for his military conquests and his policies of religious tolerance.

In more recent times, the name Cy has been used as a shortened form of Cyrus. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Cy Young (1867-1955), an American baseball player who is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. The Cy Young Award, given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball, is named after him.

Another notable figure with the name Cy was Cy Twombly (1928-2011), an American painter and sculptor who was a leading figure in the abstract expressionist movement. Cy DeCosse (1936-1975) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for several teams in the National Hockey League during the 1960s.

Additionally, Cy Endfield (1914-1995) was a American screenwriter and film director known for his socially conscious films such as "Try and Get Me!" and "Zulu." Cy Caldwell (1833-1923) was an American poet and journalist who wrote several books of poetry and was a popular figure in the literary circles of her time.