Coy is a gender-neutral given name of unknown origin, though it may derive from the English word "coy," meaning shy or modest. The name gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was most commonly used as a female name until the mid-20th century when its usage began to decline for girls but continued for boys, likely due to its association with the character Coyote from Native American folklore. However, in recent years, it has seen a resurgence as a unisex name choice among parents seeking unique and non-traditional names for their children.
The name Coy experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable spike starting from 1915 until the late 1920s, followed by a steady decline thereafter. The most popular years for the name were 1915 to 1924, with around 20 births per year on average. However, after 1927, the number of births with the name Coy decreased significantly and remained relatively low throughout the rest of the century, averaging about 5-6 births per year from 1930 onwards.