UK boy's name
Delroy
Of uncertain origin, possibly from the French Désirée meaning "desired".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Delroy is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Delroy popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 6 births.
This profile covers 24 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Delroy. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Delroy ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 6 boys were registered as Delroy.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Delroy as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
6 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Meaning
What does Delroy mean?
The name Delroy has its origins in the English language, emerging in the late 16th century. It is a combination of two Old English words – "del," meaning "valley" or "dell," and "roy," derived from the Old French word "roi," meaning "king." This suggests that the name Delroy was likely bestowed upon those who resided in or were associated with a particular valley or dell, perhaps one ruled by a king or monarch.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Delroy can be found in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England, dating back to 1597. Here, the name "Delroy Smythe" appears, indicating its usage during the Elizabethan era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Delroy. One such figure was Delroy Hudson (1905-1981), a Jamaican-born British track and field athlete who competed in the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the latter games.
Another prominent Delroy was Sir Delroy Lindo (1921-2010), a Jamaican diplomat and politician who served as the Governor-General of Jamaica from 1997 to 2009. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his contributions to public service.
In the realm of literature, Delroy Nenny (1876-1945) was a British poet and author known for his works that celebrated rural life and the natural world. His most famous collection, "Songs of the Countryside," was published in 1912.
The name Delroy also found its way into the world of entertainment. Delroy Lindo (born 1952) is an acclaimed American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and Da 5 Bloods. He has been nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Independent Spirit Award.
Lastly, Delroy Wilson (1948-1995) was a renowned Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the late 1960s and 1970s. His hit songs, such as "Better Must Come," "Cool Operator," and "I'm Still Waiting," solidified his place in the history of Jamaican music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Delroy over time
The chart below shows babies named Delroy registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Delroy, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Delroy by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Delroy was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4659 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3368 | 9 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2922 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Delroy
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Delroy: questions and answers
How popular is the name Delroy in the UK right now?
In 2024, Delroy was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Delroy most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 6 babies registered as Delroy in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Delroy?
Of uncertain origin, possibly from the French Désirée meaning "desired".
How many people are called Delroy in the UK?
A total of 24 babies have been registered as Delroy across the 7 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.