Guy
Guy is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Wood or leader; wide.
Origin and history
Guy is a classic name of Norman French and Germanic origin, derived from the element 'wido' meaning wood or wide. Historically popular in medieval England and France, it gained widespread use across the English-speaking world. In the United States, it enjoyed strong popularity in the mid-20th century and remains a recognizable, traditional name today.
Popularity in the United States
90,632 babies in the United States have been named Guy since 1880. It ranks #335 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1267.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8.6 %)
- CA (8.4 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
- TX (6.3 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,489 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,487 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,913 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,624 |
| 1920-1930 | 9,872 |
| 1930-1940 | 7,564 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,954 |
| 1950-1960 | 19,158 |
| 1960-1970 | 15,356 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,254 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,635 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,386 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,730 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,509 |
| 2020-2029 | 701 |
Famous people named Guy
- Guy Pearce: Actor
- Guy Fieri: Chef, Television Host
- Guy Ritchie: Director, Screenwriter
Fun facts
- The name Guy was introduced to England by the Normans after 1066 and quickly became widespread in medieval Britain.
- In the United Kingdom, the name is famously associated with Guy Fawkes, leading to the broader English vocabulary word 'guy'.