Given name & surname · also Irish
Elroy
“a red-haired young man”·“a king”
Elroy is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a red-haired young man” and “a king”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a red-haired young man” and “a king”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Irish and English naming traditions.
How it developed
In English use, Elroy is used as a variant of Leroy.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Elroy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,482
- 7,476 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 1922
- 192 babies
- 2025
- 22
- #4,585 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +6%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 22 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,585 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 6.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 192 in 1922. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,057 as a first name in 2020; 148 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elroy’s family of names
In English usage, Elroy has a related form in Leroy. Elroy has a related form in Elric. Elroy has a related form in Elrick.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Leroyvariant · English
- Elroivariant
- Elricvariant
- Elrickvariant
- Elrikvariant
- Elroielikely variant
- Elroeelikely variant
- Ellroylikely variant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Elroy
- Elroy HirschAmerican football player and executive (1923–2004)
- Elroy TurnerAntigua and Barbuda sprinter (* 1951)
- Elroy PappotDutch footballerborn 1993
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elroy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Reynold
“the king's advisor”
>99% boys
Rexford
“from the king's ford”
>99% boys
Enrico
“home” · “power”
>99% boys
Elden
“an old friend”
>99% boys
Ferdinand
“a courageous voyager”
>99% boys
Elton
“a spontaneous woman” · “from the old town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Edward
“a wealthy protector”
>99% boys
Ottis
“a wealthy man” · “one who is acute”
>99% boys