Rod Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rod is an Old English name derived from 'Hrodgar,' meaning 'famous spear.' It evolved through various forms, including Roderick and Rodney, and has traits of simplicity and strength. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Rod is most popular in Oregon, 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. From 2020-2022, Rod has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male 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 male in West. Across generations, 'Rod' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3762nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1159th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 473rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 646th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2306th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6183rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 12559th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rod' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rod"
Pronunciation
/rɒd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Rod is derived from the Old English name 'Hrodgar,' which means 'famous spear.' It is often considered a diminutive form of names such as Roderick or Rodney.
Meaning
famous spear
Language Evolution
Hrodgar (Old English), Roderick (Old Germanic), Rodney (Old English), Rod (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Rod gained popularity in the 20th century as a standalone name and as a diminutive of longer names like Roderick.
Variants & Derivatives
Rodney, Roderick, Rudy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rod is perceived as a classic and straightforward name, often associated with a down-to-earth personality.
Famous People
Rod Stewart - a renowned British singer, Rod Laver - an accomplished Australian tennis player, Rod Serling - an influential American television producer and writer
Explore More Rod Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rod"
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 "Rod"
"Rod" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3762nd of 7545 | 74 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1159th of 6773 | 631 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 473rd of 7552 | 4,758 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 646th of 10718 | 2,597 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2306th of 16616 | 449 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6183rd of 24088 | 190 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 12559th of 23106 | 45 |
Regional Popularity of "Rod" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
55.30% 855th/1546 |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
29.22% 452nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
16.93% 377th/2227 |
23.42% 569th/2430 |
27.30% 779th/2853 |
11.32% 314th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
17.23% 506th/2937 |
22.19% 773rd/3483 |
24.70% 869th/3518 |
13.03% 527th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
59.30% 3080th/5194 |
28.87% 1824th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
55.88% 4170th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rod" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rod"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rod" 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.