Rocky Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rocky has its origins in the Italian name Rocco, which comes from a Germanic word meaning 'rest.' It has evolved through various forms and gained significant popularity in the 20th century, particularly due to film culture. The name conveys traits of strength and determination, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Rocky is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rocky has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Rocky' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2458th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1272nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 311th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 425th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 536th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1015th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 874th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5189th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8388th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 17086th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7002nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Rocky' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rocky"
Pronunciation
/ˈrɑːki/
Origin
Italian, English
Etymology
The name Rocky is derived from the Italian name 'Rocco,' which is rooted in the Germanic element 'hrok,' meaning 'rest.'
Meaning
rest
Language Evolution
Rocco, Rocko, Rocky
Historical Usage
The name Rocky became popular in the 20th century, particularly due to the iconic movie character Rocky Balboa, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, which debuted in 1976.
Variants & Derivatives
Rocco, Rocko
Modern Popularity & Image
Rocky is often associated with strength, resilience, and a fighting spirit, largely influenced by the character from the Rocky film franchise.
Famous People
Rocky Marciano, Rocky Balboa (fictional character), Rocky Johnson
Explore More Rocky Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rocky"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rocky"
"Rocky" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2458th of 7545 | 177 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1272nd of 6773 | 532 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 311th of 7552 | 10,865 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 425th of 10718 | 5,720 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 536th of 16616 | 5,099 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1015th of 24088 | 2,717 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 874th of 23106 | 3,054 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5189th of 12526 | 107 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8388th of 19264 | 68 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 17086th of 27321 | 28 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7002nd of 30306 | 200 |
Regional Popularity of "Rocky" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
64.20% 999th/1556 |
73.40% 1727th/2353 |
44.41% 687th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.44% 277th/2227 |
22.47% 546th/2430 |
10.80% 308th/2853 |
9.01% 250th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
14.33% 421st/2937 |
20.90% 728th/3483 |
10.89% 383rd/3518 |
9.82% 397th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.20% 560th/3685 |
18.61% 833rd/4475 |
9.26% 481st/5194 |
8.12% 513th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
26.19% 1200th/4582 |
40.38% 2085th/5164 |
14.33% 1048th/7313 |
11.58% 864th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
24.65% 982nd/3984 |
26.90% 1207th/4487 |
15.83% 1080th/6822 |
10.28% 645th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rocky" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
53.35% 3348th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rocky"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rocky" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.