Coy

Updated: December 3, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Typically used for baby boys, Coy is both a common given name and surname, and because it's so short and sweet, it's also a popular middle name. It was more popular during the earlier 20th century, but it's been attempting to make a comeback for years. It has a bit of a rustic feel, and it sounds great with both modern and classic middle names.

Meaning of the name Coy:

English: Pretense of shyness or modesty
Gaelic: Son of fire

Origin of the name Coy:

There are two potential orgins for the name Coy. One is that it's simply an English word name that means “pretense of shyness or modesty.” There's also the train of thought that it's derived from the Gaelic surname McCoy, which means “son of Aodh.” Aodh means “fire,” so Coy would mean “son of fire.”

Symbolism of the name Coy:

Coy is often associated with cowboys and westerns, so some new parents may find symbolism there. If you belive it's derived from the Gaelic name McCoy, you may see it as a symbol of fire.

Style of the name Coy:

Traditional

Gender of the name Coy:

Coy is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Coy:

KOY

Number of syllables in the name Coy:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Coy:

The baby name Coy evokes images of someone who is not afraid to take charge and be a leader.

Alternative spellings for the name Coy:

Nicknames for the name Coy:

N/A

Popularity of the name Coy:

Coy was a top 1,000 baby name for boys in the United States until about 1988. It made a few brief comebacks in 1992, 1997, and 2003. It was most popular in 1910 when it ranked at number 299. According to the Social Security Administration, it last ranked at number 992 in 2003.