Loyal

Meaning of Loyal

Loyal began life as a Middle English adjective—ultimately from the Old French “loial,” meaning lawful or faithful—before taking a brief detour into the American naming charts at the turn of the 20th century. As a given name it functions as a straight-to-the-point virtue pick, telegraphing qualities parents often hope will outlast toddlerhood. U.S. records show Loyal has never vanished entirely from use; it hovered in modest obscurity for most of the last century, then started a quiet comeback after 2015, climbing from the 800s into the mid-600s by 2024. Pronounced LOI-uhl, it offers crisp two-syllable economy and an unmistakable meaning—no decoder ring required. Pop-culture references are scarce, which some view as an advantage: the name arrives unencumbered by comic-book heroes or sitcom sidekicks, leaving the bearer free to define the trait for himself.

Pronunciation

American English

• Pronunced as LOI-uhl (/ˈlɔɪəl/)

• True