Royce is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #986 in 1997 with 132 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2021 with 809 births ranking #392. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 26.3%. In 1997, approximately 1 in every 14,281 boys born was named Royce. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Royce comes from an English surname derived from the medieval given name Royse, itself a variant of Rose. That gives the name an old floral root beneath its polished surname-style surface.
Its modern use as a first name follows the wider English habit of turning surnames into given names. The one-syllable sound helps it feel crisp and modern even though the root is older.