Leroy is a unique and distinctive given name of French origin. It is derived from the Old French word "le roi," which means "the king." Therefore, Leroy literally translates to "the king."
The name Leroy has a rich history and has been used for centuries in France. In fact, it was first recorded as a surname in the early 13th century in Normandy, France. Over time, Leroy evolved from being primarily a surname to also being used as a given name.
Leroy gained popularity outside of France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States and Canada. Today, it is still considered a somewhat uncommon name, but it is nonetheless appreciated for its unique sound and historical significance.
In terms of famous individuals named Leroy, one notable example is American jazz musician Lester "Prez" Young, who was often referred to by his nickname Leroy. Another is French poet Arthur Rimbaud, whose mother's maiden name was Leroy.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Leroi has seen varying levels of popularity over the years in the United States. The name first appeared in the records with 5 births each year from 1922 to 1931, indicating a consistent yet relatively low level of usage during this period.
There was a slight increase in the number of births with the name Leroi in 1939 and again in the mid-1950s, with 6 births recorded in both 1953 and 1956. This suggests that there may have been some trends or influences during these years that contributed to a slight uptick in popularity for this name.
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw another fluctuation in the number of births with the name Leroi, with peaks in 1968 (6 births) and 1969 (10 births). However, it appears that these trends did not continue into the following decades, as there were only 5 births each year from 1972 to 1980.
There was another surge in popularity for the name Leroi in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with peaks of 8 births in 1977 and 9 births in 1979. After a decline in the mid-1980s, there was another significant peak in popularity for this name in 1990, with 10 births recorded that year.
Despite some fluctuations in popularity over the years, it appears that the name Leroi has generally remained relatively uncommon in the United States. With a total of 150 births over the course of nearly a century (1922-2016), this name may be considered somewhat unique and distinctive among American baby names.