Baby Name of the Day: Troy

The baby name Troy became a smash hit during the 1960s. But how would it wear for a child born today?

Thanks to Ella for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME TROY MEAN?

The baby name Troy is yet another of those first names that started out with the last names.

Most likely Troy referred to Troyes, France. Established during the Roman era, today it’s south-east of Paris on the Seine River. It’s not all that big or booming, though it has history to spare, from the ancient world into the modern day. 

In that case, Troyes comes from the Roman name for the city, Tricassium. The Romans named it for the Tricasses, the Gallic tribe already living there when the Romans marched on in. The “tri” in Tricasses referred to three, though there’s debate over the rest of the name’s origin.

If we hear the name now, though? Our first thought is likely the ancient city of Troy. 

We know Troy as the city the Greeks laid siege to in Homer’s Iliad. It’s said that Troy – Troia, in Greek – was named for founder Tros. Except that’s probably the stuff of legend. Instead, the ancient city likely took its name from a forgotten language. 

GREEK MYTHOLOGY TO SHAKESPEAREAN ROMANCE

Let’s stay in the ancient world for a minute.

The hero Troilus was the youngest son of King Priam and Hecuba, known for his courage and bravery. He falls in love with Cressida, and ultimately loses his life to Achilles. 

His story inspired writers from the Middle Ages, like Boccaccio and Chaucer. Shakespeare’s 1602 play Troilus and Cressida comes from the medieval tales.

TROY DONAHUE

American actor Troy Donahue was born Merle Johnson, Jr. He took his stage name from the ancient city.

It was the perfect name for the 1950s. It fit with other popular actors of the day like Rock (Hudson) and Tab (Hunter). But Troy was also a twist on long-time Top 100 name Roy. 

Donahue also inspired The Simpsons character Troy McClure.

At the time, Donahue’s popularity sent the name soaring.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME TROY?

The baby name Troy has always ranked in the US Top 1000 every year, from 1880 right through 2024.

As Donahue’s career took off, the name climbed. In 1961, as the actor starred in television detective series Surfside 6, the name entered the US Top 100.

It peaked at #40 in the late 1960s, the age of Mark, Todd, Dean, Keith, and Sean. 

The name even ranked for girls in 1961. Did parents considered it potentially gender neutral, or it was just a fluke? Impossible to say, but the numbers are there. 

There’s a tiny uptick in use around 2004, when Hollywood epic Troy gave us a cast of ancients – from foot soldier to commander, princess to king. Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, and more probably convinced some parents that the name was still fresh and interesting, or at least storied and enduring. 

But as of 2024? The baby name Troy continues to fall dramatically, sitting at just #531, the least popular rank in over a century.

BRIGHT, STRONG SOUND

Just like Dean, the baby name Troy might be ready for revival ahead of schedule. After all, it fits with brief and bright names we love for our sons – Beau and Jett and Crew, too. 

But for now, Troy remains stuck in style limbo, more a family honor choice to use as a middle name than a rising vintage comeback. 

Give it a few more years, though, and great-grandpa Troy will almost certainly inspire some namesakes. It’s the kind of ancient choice that feels destined to be remembered. 

What do you think of the baby name Troy?