Rodney
How to say it: ROD-nee · /ˈrɑdni/
From an English place name meaning 'Hroda's island'; Hroda is an Old English personal name meaning 'fame'.
Rodney was the 985th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 197 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1960s, its births are down about 43% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,138 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #985 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 197 |
| Share of births | 1 in 16,829 |
| Peak decade | 1960s |
| Change over 10 years | −43% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,138 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Hitting a high in the 1960s, Rodney has grown steadily rarer since. Now far below its peak, further decline seems ahead.
What goes with it
Sturdy with a crisp bite softened by a mellow close, it speaks in two syllables. Rod gives a familiar short form, and Roger shares its midcentury air.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Rodney is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Rodney
- Rodney Robert Porter (1917–1985)English biochemist and Nobel laureate
- Rodney Williams (born 1947)Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
- Rodney Mullen (born 1966)American professional skateboarder
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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