Meaning & Origin
A surname from French, borne by English speakers.
Leroy is a boy's and girl's baby name of French origin, from the Old French le roi meaning "the king" — a surname originally given as a nickname to someone who acted in a kingly manner or played the role of king. It entered use as a given name particularly in African-American communities.
Leroy ranked in the U.S. top 30 boys' names from the 1880s through the 1930s. Leroy "Satchel" Paige, the legendary baseball pitcher who played in the Negro Leagues before breaking the color barrier at age 42, is perhaps its most celebrated bearer. The name carries a regal confidence — after all, it literally means "the king."