The baby name Romy blends casual style with midcentury glam.
Thanks to Caroline for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME ROMY MEAN?
The most logical explanation for the baby name Romy?
It’s a contracted form of the botanical/double name Rosemary or Rosemarie.
The letters are right there: ROseMarY.
It was probably heard first in German.
That means that Romy borrows its meaning from the longer name. The herb rosemary comes from the Latin phrase ros marinus: dew of the sea.
So that’s an obvious answer.
WHAT ELSE COULD ROMY BE SHORT FOR?
Except if Romy is short for something else? Then the meaning shifts accordingly. Other options include:
- Romaine – Feminine form of Roman, with several possible variations
- Romana – Another feminine form of Roman, worn by an early companion of long-running television character Doctor Who
- Romilda – Old school name from Germanic elements, meaning famous battle
- Romilly – French surname name, ultimately related to Roman name Romulus, found on the map across France
- Romina – Another cousin to Romaine and Romana
- Romola – Probably, like Romilly, related to Romulus
- Rosamund – Any Rose name with an M middle/M ending could easily become Romy, too
ROMY SCHNEIDER
Austrian actress Romy Schneider was born Rosemarie Albach in 1937 war-torn Vienna.
In the post-war era, she became a major international star, appearing in many French and German films from the 1950s into the early 1980s.
Schneider won a pair of César Awards for Best Actress, and her memory lives on with the Prix Romy Schneider – an award given annually to the most promising actress in French film.
She remains famous in Germany, too, where biopic projects are many and a TV award also bears her name.
ROMY in POP CULTURE
In 1997, Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino starred in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. It’s something of a cult classic, the story of two women who invent impressive resumes meant to wow their former classmates … but they get found out, only to have a better ending than they could’ve ever imagined.
The movie led to a 2005 television prequel, and a big screen sequel is in development as of 2025.
A handful of celebrity families have used the name. Filmmaker Sofia Coppola named her firstborn daughter Romy, after her brother, Roman.
There’s also actress Romy Rosemont, known her roles on television series like Glee and 9-1-1.
Grammy-nominated singer Romy Madley Croft, known just as Romy, is the most recent of famous people by the name to make headlines.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ROMY?
In many ways, Romy is a perfect name for our moment.
It picks up on unisex favorites like Remy, Riley, Rory, and Rowan. The name also fits with trends like the long O of Chloe and Zoe, as well as casual picks like Sadie and Ellie.
And in 2024, it debuted in the Top 1000 most popular names for girls in the US at #926.
Of course, that’s as an independent first name. Rosemary ranks around the #300, so it’s possible there are more girls using Romy as a nickname.
GLAM MEETS SLEEK
The baby name Romy feels modern and sleek. It blends the midcentury appeal of the actress Romy Schneider with ties to classic names like Rosemarie.
It’s uncommon and still surprising to hear, but rising in use thanks to so many positive qualities.
What do you think of the baby name Romy?
First published on July 30, 2010, this post was updated on June 16, 2015, and again on August 21, 2025.
We named our daughter Romy. She goes by the nickname Romes. At the time we didn’t know any other Romys but now we know at least three or four others who are of a similar age (under 10) which we think is lovely.
Romy or Romi is popular in Israel because it’s also a short form of Romina (which is an arabic – hebrew name). My mother wanted to name me after Romy Schneider, but Romy or Rosemary are not allowed in my country, so she called me Romina. But everybody calls me Romi, by the way.
Romy is a good name, I agree it can stand on it’s own.
Thank you, Abby for giving us a great week of names. I particularly enjoyed Romy, Sally (gee, didn’t realize I actually LIKE it!), and Amy.
I look forward to your post every day.