Robroy
A masculine given name of Scottish origin meaning "red-haired king".
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Robroy. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Robroy today is around 61 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Robroy births was 1966 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Robroy. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Robroy. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1966
6 babies that year
Average age
61
years old
1968 SSA rank
#4,049
Tracked since 1958
Popularity
Robroy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Robroy from the 1950s through to the 1960s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 17 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Robroy by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Robroy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Robroy
The name Robroy is an uncommon one, with its origins shrouded in mystery. It is believed to have originated in ancient Gaelic or Celtic cultures, potentially deriving from the words "rob" meaning red, and "roy" meaning king or ruler. This suggests the name may have been used to refer to a red-haired chieftain or leader in ancient times.
Robroy's roots can be traced back to the rugged highlands of Scotland and Ireland, where it was likely used by clans and tribes as a proud moniker for their warriors and chieftains. The earliest recorded instances of the name are found in ancient Scottish and Irish folklore, where tales of brave Robroys defending their lands and people were passed down through generations of oral tradition.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Robroy was a 9th-century Scottish clan leader who famously led his people in a victorious battle against invading Norse raiders. While details of his life are scarce, his legend as a fierce and cunning warrior has endured through the ages.
In the 16th century, a notorious outlaw and cattle rustler named Robert Roy MacGregor, also known as Robroy, gained infamy in the Scottish Highlands. Born in 1671 and dying in 1734, his exploits and legendary skill with a sword made him a folk hero among the common people, despite his criminal activities.
Another notable Robroy was an Irish chieftain who lived in the 17th century and played a pivotal role in the Irish Confederate Wars. His bravery and leadership during this tumultuous period earned him a place in the annals of Irish history.
In the 19th century, a Scottish poet and playwright named Robroy MacGregor penned several works that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of his homeland. His writings helped preserve the tales of his namesake, the legendary outlaw, for future generations.
While the name Robroy may be rare today, its deep roots in Celtic and Gaelic cultures have left an indelible mark on history, with tales of courage, resilience, and rebellion woven into its very fabric.
People
Robroy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Robroy as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Robroy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Robroy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Robroy going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Robroy a common name?
We classify Robroy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Robroy most popular?
The single biggest year for Robroy was 1966, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Robroy is about 61 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Robroy a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Robroy in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.