The name Loyal is of English origin and its meaning is "loyal". It is derived from the Old French word "loial", which means "faithful" or "devoted". The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, but it became more popular during the Victorian era when many people were drawn to names with positive virtues.
The name Loyal is often associated with the concept of loyalty and faithfulness. It is a name that implies a strong sense of devotion and commitment. In literature and history, there are several examples of characters named Loyal who embody these qualities. For instance, in Sir Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe", the character of Wilfred of Ivanhoe has a loyal squire named Loyal.
The name Loyal has also been used as a given name for both boys and girls, although it is more commonly given to boys. Some famous people with the name Loyal include American basketball player Loyal Wingfield and British cricketer Loyal Mohan.
Overall, the name Loyal is a strong and distinctive choice that carries a powerful meaning behind it. It is a name that has been used for centuries and continues to be popular today due to its positive associations with loyalty and faithfulness.
The name Loyal experienced a significant decrease in popularity over time, with its highest peak in the early 1900s and a steady decline since then. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, there were years where Loyal was given to as many as 44 babies at a time (in 1912). However, by the mid-1950s, it had fallen out of favor and saw fewer than 30 births per year. In recent years, particularly after the late 1980s, Loyal has been quite uncommon as a baby name, with less than 10 births each year from 1989 onwards, reaching as low as 5 births in certain years like 2006 and 2017. The total number of births recorded over the entire period is 5429.