Unisex · #5,774 in 2026

Rocket

A rocket is an elongated flying vehicle that uses a rocket engine to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed.

Current Rank
#5,774
Peak Rank
#3,738 (2021)
Total Babies
394
5-Yr Trend
-28%
👧 Girl peak #9,478 (45 total)
👦 Boy peak #3,738 (394 total)
👦As Boy Name
2001
First Year
2026
Last Year
2021
Peak Year
#3738
Peak Rank
394
Total Count
23
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2014
First Year
2021
Last Year
2015
Peak Year
#9478
Peak Rank
45
Total Count
6
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rocket

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

A rocket is an elongated flying vehicle that uses a rocket engine to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed.

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

Origin & history
Main article: History of rockets Further information: Timeline of rocket and missile technology Rocket arrows depicted in the Huolongjing : "fire arrow", "dragon-shaped arrow frame", and a "complete fire arrow" Gunpowder -powered rockets evolved in medieval China under the Song dynasty by the 13th century. They also developed an early form of multiple rocket launcher during this time. The Mongols adopted Chinese rocket technology and the invention spread via the Mongol invasions to the Middle East and to Europe in the mid-13th century. According to Joseph Needham, the Song navy used rockets in

The Story of Rocket

As a girl name

Rocket first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2014, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 11 Rockets were born — ranking #9,478 that year. As of 2026, Rocket ranks #15,244 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 45 Rockets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Rocket first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2001, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 29 Rockets were born — ranking #3,738 that year. As of 2026, Rocket ranks #5,774 for boys with 16 births, falling sharply (-28%). In total, more than 394 Rockets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Rocket

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

  • Rockette
  • Rockett
  • Raket
  • Recut
  • Rachat
  • Racket
  • Racquet
  • Rackett
  • Rickett
  • Reckitt
  • Roquette
  • Rockets

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rocket

What does the name Rocket mean?
A rocket is an elongated flying vehicle that uses a rocket engine to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed.
How popular is Rocket in 2026?
In 2026, Rocket ranks #5,774 among boys' names in the U.S., with 16 babies given the name that year.
When was Rocket most popular?
Rocket reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking #3,738 that year with 29 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Rocket most popular?
Rocket has historically been most popular in California, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Rocket.
Is Rocket a unisex name?
Yes — Rocket is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 10% of Rockets assigned female and 90% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Rocket?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rocket include Yaw, Shiva, Talor. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Rocket

Rocket is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2001 and has accumulated 394 births in the dataset. Rocket's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #3,738. Use the chart and map above to compare Rocket'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.