ロイ
Your name
Roy
in Japanese
The default way to write Roy in Japanese is ロイ — a phonetic katakana spelling that captures the sound and signals, instantly to a Japanese reader, that the name comes from elsewhere. But katakana is only one of three answers Japanese gives to a foreign name.
Below, we show all three. First the official katakana. Then a set of meaning kanji chosen to express what Roy actually means at the root — From Old French 'roi' meaning 'king'; also linked to Gaelic 'ruadh' meaning 'red-haired'. Finally a set of ateji, the playful tradition where the kanji match the sound and tell their own small story underneath.
Katakana — Phonetic
How Roy is most commonly written in Japanese — used on official documents, business cards, and signage.
Meaning Kanji — Etymology
"Roy" means: From Old French 'roi' meaning 'king'; also linked to Gaelic 'ruadh' meaning 'red-haired'.
王偉
Oui
王 (king) + 偉 (great, magnificent) — captures the regal 'king' meaning with added grandeur.
皇威
Koui
皇 (sovereign, emperor) + 威 (authority, dignity) — emphasizes royal authority and noble presence.
朱依
Shui
朱 (vermillion red) + 依 (to rely on, trust) — honors the Gaelic 'red-haired' root with a sense of warmth and dependability.
Ateji — Sound + Meaning
Where the sound matches and the kanji tell their own small story. The Edo scholars and modern manga authors both played this game.
露威
Roi
露 (dew, reveal) + 威 (majesty, dignity) — mystical: a king whose majesty is revealed like morning dew.
炉灯
Roi
炉 (hearth, furnace) + 灯 (lamp, light) — cozy and cute: the warm glow of a hearth-lamp.
魯彝
Roi
魯 (ancient state of Lu, classical wisdom) + 彝 (sacred ritual vessel) — cool and mystical: an heirloom of classical lore.
Not sure which form to use?
Katakana, meaning kanji, and ateji each belong to a different part of Japanese life — official paperwork, calligraphy and gifts, signatures and wordplay. Our full guide walks through when to reach for each one.
Read the guide: the three ways to write your name in Japanese →
Seven, drawn