US Popularity Rank: 3474

Origin: Irish

Meaning: Quiet, calm; Clever

Coy is a surname and boy’s given name of English, Old French, and Irish origin. As an English surname, it derives from the word “coy,” meaning quiet or shy. With roots in the Old French word coi, it was used as a nickname for a quiet person. A fitting name for a little introvert! Alternatively, it may be related to the Irish surname McCoy, an anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning “son of Aodh.” In Celtic mythology, Aodh was the god of the underworld, and his name may be connected to the Old Irish word áed, meaning “fire.” A famous Coy is Coy Wire, the sports anchor and former NFL player.