The name Royal is of English origin and it means "belonging to or connected with a king or queen". It comes from the Middle English word 'roial', which was derived from the Old French word 'royal'. The name Royal has been used as a given name since the Middle Ages, but it became more popular in the 20th century. Today, it is often used as a unisex name, although it is still more commonly used for boys. Some famous people with the name Royal include American rapper and singer, Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Denise Jones, and Canadian actor, Royal Dano, who was born Robert Thomas Dano.
The name Royal has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. According to the statistics provided, there were only 8 births with the name Royal in 1928, and this number remained relatively low throughout the mid-20th century.
However, starting from the late 1970s, there was a noticeable uptick in the number of babies named Royal. In 1980, there were 12 births with this name, and this number continued to rise steadily throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The turn of the millennium marked a significant turning point for the popularity of the name Royal. In 2004, there were 14 births with this name, and this number more than doubled in the following year, reaching 35 births in 2005.
From then on, the popularity of the name Royal continued to grow exponentially. By 2014, there were 255 births with this name, and this number reached an all-time high of 476 in 2016. Although there has been a slight decline in recent years, with 328 births in 2021 and 254 births in 2023, the name Royal remains one of the most popular boys' names in the United States.
In conclusion, while the name Royal was not particularly common in the early-to-mid 20th century, it has since become increasingly popular, with thousands of babies being named Royal each year in the United States. This trend suggests that parents continue to appreciate the unique and regal sound of this name.