Boy · #1,179 in 2026

Rodney

Rodney is a toponymic surname derived from the ancient name of the islands off the coast of Sweden previously called Roden, now Roslagen, near Stockholm. In 1138, Walter De Rodeney accompanied Empress Maude from Normandy in her bid for the English crown during the period known as The Anarchy. Walter was awarded the manor of Backwell near Somersetshire for his support against King Stephen.

Current Rank
#1,179
Peak Rank
#33 (1965)
Total Babies
247K
5-Yr Trend
-27%
1918
First Year
2000
Last Year
1966
Peak Year
#1568
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
66
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rodney

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

Rodney is a toponymic surname derived from the ancient name of the islands off the coast of Sweden previously called Roden, now Roslagen, near Stockholm. In 1138, Walter De Rodeney accompanied Empress Maude from Normandy in her bid for the English crown during the period known as The Anarchy. Walter was awarded the manor of Backwell near Somersetshire for his support against King Stephen.

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

The Story of Rodney

Rodney first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 13 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1965, when 11,086 Rodneys were born — ranking #33 that year. As of 2026, Rodney ranks #1,179 for baby boys with 176 births, falling sharply (-27%). In total, more than 247K Rodneys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

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 Rodney

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rodney 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 Rodney

What does the name Rodney mean?
Rodney is a toponymic surname derived from the ancient name of the islands off the coast of Sweden previously called Roden, now Roslagen, near Stockholm. In 1138, Walter De Rodeney accompanied Empress Maude from Normandy in her bid for the English crown during the period known as The Anarchy. Walter was awarded the manor of Backwell near Somersetshire for his support against King Stephen.
How popular is Rodney in 2026?
In 2026, Rodney ranks #1,179 among boys' names in the U.S., with 176 babies given the name that year.
When was Rodney most popular?
Rodney reached its peak popularity in 1965, ranking #33 that year with 11,086 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Rodney most popular?
Rodney has historically been most popular in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Rodney.
Is Rodney a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Rodney is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Rodney?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rodney include Frederick, Franklin, Landon. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Rodney

Rodney is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 247K births in the dataset. Rodney's peak popularity came in 1965 when it ranked #33. Use the chart and map above to compare Rodney'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.