Given name
Cy
“a king”·“a master or lord”
In English use, Cy is a short form of Cyrus. One Persian interpretation is “a king.” Its derivation is not certain. Cy is a variant of Cyril. One Greek interpretation is “a master or lord.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Cy is a short form of Cyrus. One Persian interpretation is “a king.” Its derivation is not certain. Cy is a variant of Cyril. One Greek interpretation is “a master or lord.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Cy is a short form of Cyrus. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain. Cy is a variant of Cyril. An origin associated with Cyril is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Cy is used as a shortened form of Cyrus.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1902. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Cy is a variant of Cyril. The history of Cyril gives this family its wider story. Cyril’s historical associations include a large number of early saints, most notably the theologians Cyril of Alexandria and Cyril of Jerusalem.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Cy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,921
- 3,898 boys · 23 girls
- Most popular year
- 2010
- 117 babies
- 2025
- 52
- #2,540 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 52 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,540 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 7.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 117 in 2010. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,403 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cy’s family of names
In English usage, Cy is a diminutive of Cyrus. Cy has a related form in Cyril. Cy is a short form of Cyrus.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Cy
- Cy TwomblyAmerican painter, sculptor and photographer (1928–2011)
- Cy YoungAmerican baseball player (1867–1955)
- Cy YoungAmerican javelin thrower (1928–2017)
- Cy ColemanAmerican composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist (1929-2004)
- Cy EndfieldAmerican screenwriter and director (1914–1995)
- Cy DennenyCanadian ice hockey player (1891–1970)
- Cy KendallAmerican actor (1898-1953)
- Cy YoungAmerican animator1897–1964
- Cy MarshallAmerican racing driver (1902–1974)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Cy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ciro
“a king”
>99% boys
Cesar
“an emperor; having a full head of hair”
>99% boys
Hendry
“home” · “power”
>99% boys
Wilkes
“will” · “desire”
>99% boys
Henryk
“home” · “power”
>99% boys
Henri
“home” · “power”
97% boys · 3% girls
Kendrick
“a royal ruler” · “the champion”
99% boys · 1% girls
Amer
“a prince” · “from the treetop”
>99% boys