Fun Facts About the Name Guy
- More than 91 thousand babies named Guy: U.S. records list 91,102 babies given the name Guy from 1880 through 2025. Even 470 girls received the name Guy - about 1 girl for every 193 boys.
What Does the Name Guy Mean?
Guy is an English given name meaning "wood" or "forest." It comes from Old French Gui, the form the Normans brought to England, and that in turn goes back to a Germanic personal name, Wido. Wido was a short form of longer two-element names built on the element witu (Old High German witu, Old Norse viðr), meaning "wood." A few reference works instead connect the name with a Germanic element wīt, "wide," so the original sense is not fully settled; the "wood" explanation is the one most often given.
The Italian form Guido belongs to the same name and preserves the fuller Wido shape. In French, Guy is pronounced with a hard g followed by a long "ee" sound, while English uses the sound heard in "my."
Separately, the Hebrew name romanized as Gai or Guy derives from Hebrew gay (גיא), "valley." It shares the English spelling but has no connection to the Germanic name.
Guy Name History & Origins
The name entered England with the Norman Conquest of 1066 in the Old French form Gui, and it was in use there through the Middle Ages. It also appears in medieval literature: the romance of Guy of Warwick, a legendary English hero whose story was told in French and English verse from the thirteenth century, and Sir Guy of Gisborne, an opponent of Robin Hood in the later ballads. These are literary uses of a name that already existed, not the name's origin.
On the continent the name continued in related forms, including French Gui and Italian Guido. The best-known bearer in English history is Guy Fawkes, caught in 1605 guarding explosives placed beneath the House of Lords. Effigies of him were burned on 5 November, and from those effigies English developed the common noun guy, "a man, a fellow," along with the verb to guy, "to mock." That slang sense took hold in the nineteenth century and became ordinary in American English.
The Hebrew name Gai, also spelled Guy in English, is used in Israel and comes from the Hebrew word for a valley; it is an unrelated name that happens to share the same spelling.
How Popular is the Name Guy?
Guy recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1957. The name enjoyed early prominence in the late 19th century before its sustained modern rise.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | #11,065 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #9,795 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #9,228 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #7,375 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #7,395 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,740 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #5,472 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,662 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #5,488 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #4,358 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #5,359 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #6,600 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #5,659 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #4,340 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #4,595 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #6,179 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #5,268 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #5,876 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #5,063 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #5,596 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #4,015 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #4,873 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #5,622 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #4,643 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #4,827 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #4,824 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1943 | #3,613 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #3,886 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #4,145 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #4,623 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,253 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #4,031 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,580 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #3,885 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1934 | #4,001 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #2,976 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #2,719 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #2,480 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #2,597 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1929 | #3,014 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,231 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #4,029 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #2,110 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1925 | #2,681 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #2,455 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #2,803 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #3,037 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #3,520 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1920 | #3,201 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,096 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #2,739 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #4,298 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #2,426 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1915 | #2,792 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1914 | #2,741 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #3,399 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1900 | #1,820 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1891 | #1,406 | 5 | 0.0027% |
| 1890 | #1,267 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,637 | 103 | 0.0060% |
| 2024 | #1,561 | 111 | 0.0065% |
| 2023 | #1,567 | 111 | 0.0065% |
| 2022 | #1,435 | 127 | 0.0073% |
| 2021 | #1,504 | 118 | 0.0067% |
| 2020 | #1,360 | 130 | 0.0075% |
| 2019 | #1,133 | 172 | 0.0096% |
| 2018 | #1,309 | 139 | 0.0077% |
| 2017 | #1,188 | 157 | 0.0085% |
| 2016 | #1,299 | 140 | 0.0074% |
| 2015 | #1,193 | 155 | 0.0081% |
| 2014 | #1,187 | 156 | 0.0081% |
| 2013 | #1,206 | 149 | 0.0079% |
| 2012 | #1,245 | 142 | 0.0075% |
| 2011 | #1,237 | 141 | 0.0074% |
| 2010 | #1,165 | 158 | 0.0082% |
| 2009 | #1,231 | 146 | 0.0074% |
| 2008 | #1,123 | 163 | 0.0080% |
| 2007 | #1,131 | 159 | 0.0077% |
| 2006 | #996 | 186 | 0.0091% |
| 2005 | #1,086 | 152 | 0.0076% |
| 2004 | #988 | 168 | 0.0085% |
| 2003 | #949 | 173 | 0.0088% |
| 2002 | #925 | 173 | 0.0089% |
| 2001 | #803 | 209 | 0.0108% |
| 2000 | #801 | 201 | 0.0102% |
| 1999 | #805 | 190 | 0.0099% |
| 1998 | #766 | 208 | 0.0109% |
| 1997 | #789 | 188 | 0.0100% |
| 1996 | #765 | 193 | 0.0102% |
| 1995 | #745 | 208 | 0.0109% |
| 1994 | #739 | 202 | 0.0105% |
| 1993 | #642 | 260 | 0.0133% |
| 1992 | #614 | 282 | 0.0141% |
| 1991 | #559 | 332 | 0.0164% |
| 1990 | #566 | 323 | 0.0157% |
| 1989 | #547 | 314 | 0.0157% |
| 1988 | #508 | 327 | 0.0171% |
| 1987 | #470 | 354 | 0.0190% |
| 1986 | #467 | 344 | 0.0187% |
| 1985 | #445 | 367 | 0.0199% |
| 1984 | #452 | 343 | 0.0190% |
| 1983 | #450 | 342 | 0.0191% |
| 1982 | #399 | 422 | 0.0233% |
| 1981 | #407 | 405 | 0.0226% |
| 1980 | #396 | 418 | 0.0234% |
| 1979 | #372 | 464 | 0.0270% |
| 1978 | #369 | 435 | 0.0265% |
| 1977 | #351 | 497 | 0.0302% |
| 1976 | #339 | 507 | 0.0323% |
| 1975 | #330 | 532 | 0.0341% |
| 1974 | #308 | 593 | 0.0377% |
| 1973 | #289 | 627 | 0.0402% |
| 1972 | #268 | 726 | 0.0448% |
| 1971 | #258 | 865 | 0.0489% |
| 1970 | #235 | 1,010 | 0.0543% |
| 1969 | #211 | 1,170 | 0.0654% |
| 1968 | #202 | 1,146 | 0.0659% |
| 1967 | #199 | 1,167 | 0.0669% |
| 1966 | #192 | 1,278 | 0.0717% |
| 1965 | #187 | 1,360 | 0.0731% |
| 1964 | #170 | 1,606 | 0.0806% |
| 1963 | #169 | 1,742 | 0.0858% |
| 1962 | #166 | 1,916 | 0.0926% |
| 1961 | #162 | 2,024 | 0.0953% |
| 1960 | #168 | 1,947 | 0.0913% |
| 1959 | #158 | 2,031 | 0.0952% |
| 1958 | #156 | 2,104 | 0.0991% |
| 1957 | #149 | 2,301 | 0.1067% |
| 1956 | #146 | 2,216 | 0.1048% |
| 1955 | #145 | 2,041 | 0.0991% |
| 1954 | #143 | 2,099 | 0.1030% |
| 1953 | #150 | 1,885 | 0.0956% |
| 1952 | #152 | 1,843 | 0.0948% |
| 1951 | #179 | 1,400 | 0.0744% |
| 1950 | #179 | 1,237 | 0.0691% |
| 1949 | #185 | 1,130 | 0.0637% |
| 1948 | #195 | 1,023 | 0.0583% |
| 1947 | #180 | 1,183 | 0.0647% |
| 1946 | #186 | 977 | 0.0602% |
| 1945 | #195 | 759 | 0.0564% |
| 1944 | #193 | 783 | 0.0575% |
| 1943 | #196 | 823 | 0.0577% |
| 1942 | #196 | 799 | 0.0579% |
| 1941 | #191 | 760 | 0.0619% |
| 1940 | #192 | 716 | 0.0618% |
| 1939 | #187 | 712 | 0.0643% |
| 1938 | #189 | 719 | 0.0648% |
| 1937 | #181 | 732 | 0.0686% |
| 1936 | #183 | 711 | 0.0685% |
| 1935 | #177 | 768 | 0.0738% |
| 1934 | #178 | 767 | 0.0743% |
| 1933 | #172 | 790 | 0.0797% |
| 1932 | #180 | 757 | 0.0725% |
| 1931 | #174 | 781 | 0.0751% |
| 1930 | #174 | 827 | 0.0754% |
| 1929 | #173 | 821 | 0.0763% |
| 1928 | #167 | 867 | 0.0783% |
| 1927 | #162 | 921 | 0.0817% |
| 1926 | #159 | 994 | 0.0895% |
| 1925 | #157 | 978 | 0.0876% |
| 1924 | #151 | 1,055 | 0.0931% |
| 1923 | #149 | 1,043 | 0.0952% |
| 1922 | #141 | 1,116 | 0.1026% |
| 1921 | #140 | 1,120 | 0.1017% |
| 1920 | #154 | 957 | 0.0899% |
| 1919 | #148 | 908 | 0.0926% |
| 1918 | #144 | 999 | 0.0986% |
| 1917 | #146 | 904 | 0.0977% |
| 1916 | #144 | 903 | 0.1015% |
| 1915 | #145 | 816 | 0.0962% |
| 1914 | #156 | 580 | 0.0886% |
| 1913 | #137 | 566 | 0.1104% |
| 1912 | #140 | 455 | 0.1058% |
| 1911 | #136 | 243 | 0.1075% |
| 1910 | #133 | 250 | 0.1287% |
| 1909 | #137 | 195 | 0.1189% |
| 1908 | #126 | 200 | 0.1296% |
| 1907 | #126 | 189 | 0.1287% |
| 1906 | #126 | 168 | 0.1262% |
| 1905 | #105 | 203 | 0.1534% |
| 1904 | #122 | 175 | 0.1366% |
| 1903 | #105 | 187 | 0.1568% |
| 1902 | #104 | 186 | 0.1516% |
| 1901 | #99 | 170 | 0.1597% |
| 1900 | #99 | 240 | 0.1595% |
| 1899 | #90 | 200 | 0.1883% |
| 1898 | #94 | 215 | 0.1752% |
| 1897 | #93 | 195 | 0.1729% |
| 1896 | #77 | 262 | 0.2191% |
| 1895 | #76 | 261 | 0.2223% |
| 1894 | #76 | 261 | 0.2255% |
| 1893 | #72 | 267 | 0.2377% |
| 1892 | #65 | 315 | 0.2581% |
| 1891 | #67 | 262 | 0.2589% |
| 1890 | #72 | 249 | 0.2243% |
| 1889 | #70 | 271 | 0.2451% |
| 1888 | #71 | 297 | 0.2458% |
| 1887 | #71 | 238 | 0.2347% |
| 1886 | #70 | 255 | 0.2302% |
| 1885 | #68 | 266 | 0.2468% |
| 1884 | #72 | 260 | 0.2272% |
| 1883 | #71 | 224 | 0.2141% |
| 1882 | #68 | 253 | 0.2225% |
| 1881 | #76 | 186 | 0.1846% |
| 1880 | #68 | 239 | 0.2163% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Guy
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with G
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with G
How the Name Guy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Guy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Guy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.