Guy

At a Glance

Meaning

Wood (Germanic short-name element); rarely 'valley' (Hebrew)

Origin

Old French (Germanic); rare Hebrew variant

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

GYListen

Guy is a classic boy's name with an Old French and Germanic root, from a short-name element meaning 'wood'; a rarer Hebrew-derived variant means 'valley'. You may see it linked to 'guide' or 'leader', but that's just a folk association from the way it sounds like the English word 'guide'. It's pronounced GY (/ˈɡaɪ/), and its clean, one-syllable look feels both timeless and modern.

Meaning & Origin of Guy

Meaning: Wood (Germanic short-name element); rarely 'valley' (Hebrew).

Origin: Old French (Germanic); rare Hebrew variant.

A common claim: guide, leader Actually: This is a folk association from sound-alike resemblance to the English word 'guide' — the name actually derives from a Germanic element meaning 'wood', with a rarer Hebrew-derived variant meaning 'valley'.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Guy

Popularity of Guy

Guy peaked at #65 in 1892, when 315 boys were given the name. By 2024 it ranked #1561, with 111 boys receiving it, so it's now an uncommon pick in the U.S.

Names Like Guy

These names share Guy’s style, era or origin.

• Alexandre
• Antoine
• Armand
• Beau
• Boone
• Henri

FAQ

What does the name Guy mean?

Wood (Germanic short-name element); rarely ‘valley’ (Hebrew). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Guy?

Guy is pronounced GY (IPA: /ˈɡaɪ/).

Is Guy a popular name right now?

Guy peaked at #65 in 1892 and is ranked #1561 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Guy Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Guy, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.