Girl · #11,738 in 2026

Rhodesia

Rhodesia, known initially as Zambesia, is a historical region in southern Africa whose formal boundaries evolved between the 1890s and 1980. The term "Rhodesia" was first used to refer to the region by European settlers in the 1890s who informally named their new home after Cecil Rhodes, the founder and managing director of the British South Africa Company (BSAC).

Current Rank
#11,738
Peak Rank
#5,212 (1977)
Total Babies
95
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1966
First Year
1992
Last Year
1977
Peak Year
#5212
Peak Rank
95
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rhodesia

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Rhodesia, known initially as Zambesia, is a historical region in southern Africa whose formal boundaries evolved between the 1890s and 1980. The term "Rhodesia" was first used to refer to the region by European settlers in the 1890s who informally named their new home after Cecil Rhodes, the founder and managing director of the British South Africa Company (BSAC).

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
When Europeans settled what became "Southern Rhodesia" in 1890, and when the British South Africa Company was chartered to administer "North-Western Rhodesia" and "North-Eastern Rhodesia", it was not under those names, but the names of the parts—"Mashonaland", "Matabeleland", "Barotseland", and so on. The territories were initially collectively referred to as "Zambesia" ( Cecil Rhodes 's preferred name), "Charterland" ( Leander Starr Jameson 's proposal) or "the BSAC territories". "Rhodesia" was used informally by the settlers from the start of "White" settlement, and was common enough usage f

The Story of Rhodesia

Rhodesia first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1966, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1977: 12 births, good for #5,212 nationwide. About 71% of every Rhodesia on record arrived during the 1970s, its defining decade. Rhodesia last appeared in the published SSA data in 1992, with 6 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 95 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1960s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Rhodesia

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rhodesia is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhodesia

What does the name Rhodesia mean?
Rhodesia, known initially as Zambesia, is a historical region in southern Africa whose formal boundaries evolved between the 1890s and 1980. The term "Rhodesia" was first used to refer to the region by European settlers in the 1890s who informally named their new home after Cecil Rhodes, the founder and managing director of the British South Africa Company (BSAC).
How popular is Rhodesia in 2026?
In 2026, Rhodesia ranks #11,738 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Rhodesia most popular?
Rhodesia reached its peak popularity in 1977, ranking #5,212 that year with 12 babies given the name.
Is Rhodesia a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Rhodesia is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Rhodesia?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rhodesia include Eron, Melondy, Trenell. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Eron
Peak #5212
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Melondy
Peak #5212
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Trenell
Peak #5212
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Tomicka
Peak #5212
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Alpa
Peak #5212
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Matisha
Peak #5212
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Atisha
Peak #5212
👧
Kashonda
Peak #5212

About the name Rhodesia

Rhodesia is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1966 and has accumulated 95 births in the dataset. Rhodesia's peak popularity came in 1977 when it ranked #5,212. Use the chart and map above to compare Rhodesia's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.