Royal first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Royal has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Royal

Of English origin, meaning regal, majestic, or belonging to the sovereign.

Popularity of Royal by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Royal is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 71% of people named Royal being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 789 male babies and 254 female babies born with the name Royal.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 789 254
2022 868 319
2021 881 328
2020 738 352
2019 650 350
2018 610 340
2017 575 417
2016 662 476
2015 648 377
2014 489 255
2013 233 59
2012 193 32
2011 148 35
2010 145 18
2009 122 25
2008 110 14
2007 115 14
2006 75 10
2005 68 6
2004 61 14
2003 53 7
2002 53 9
2001 57 7
2000 50 11
1999 49 8
1998 52 9
1997 47 6
1996 49 11
1995 42 7
1994 52 9
1993 50 11
1992 43 7
1991 52 8
1990 66 10
1989 44 6
1988 55 6
1987 42 5
1986 48 0
1985 52 5
1984 41 8
1983 58 6
1982 55 0
1981 49 9
1980 52 13
1979 56 7
1978 60 6
1977 52 6
1976 49 8
1975 46 0
1974 49 0

The history of the first name Royal

The given name Royal has its origins rooted in the Old French word "royal," which can be traced back to the Latin word "regalis," meaning "regal" or "kingly." This name emerged during the medieval period, predominantly used in regions where French culture and language held significant influence.

One of the earliest recorded usages of the name Royal can be found in historical documents from the 13th century, where it was occasionally bestowed upon children born into noble or royal families. This practice emphasized the family's elevated social status and their connection to the monarchy or aristocracy.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Royal, such as Royal Firman Stratton (1784-1857), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey. Another prominent figure was Royal Huddleston Weller (1804-1876), a prominent American lawyer and politician who served as the 12th Governor of California.

In the realm of literature, Royal Browne (1914-1995) was an American novelist and short story writer known for his works exploring themes of Southern culture and the human condition. Additionally, Royal Bhumibol Adulyadej (1927-2016), also known as Rama IX, was the revered King of Thailand from 1946 until his passing, having reigned for over seven decades.

Moving into the 20th century, Royal Robbins (1935-2017) was an American rock climber and environmentalist, renowned for his pioneering efforts in the sport of rock climbing and his advocacy for wilderness preservation.

Throughout its history, the name Royal has carried connotations of nobility, prestige, and a connection to regal lineages. Its usage has transcended various cultures and societies, reflecting the enduring fascination with monarchical traditions and the aspiration for elevated social status.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Royal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Royal, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Royal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/royal-meaning-and-history/.

"Royal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/royal-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Royal first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/royal-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.