Rocky
Boy name · #568 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Rocky? In official American birth records, Rocky has been tracked continuously since 1913, giving it 112 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 520 baby boys were named Rocky, placing it at #568 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #925, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,462 boys born in 2025 was named Rocky.
Babies named Rocky per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 112-year story
Rocky first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 909 boys were named Rocky — good for #252 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rocky against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rocky in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rocky is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rocky is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rocky is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Rocky is most common in HI (3.8 per 1,000), UT (1.7 per 1,000), OR (0.7 per 1,000), AZ (0.7 per 1,000), WA (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Rocky is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Rocky
Statistically, parents drawn to Rocky tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ricky, Rudy, Robin, Ray, and Clay.
RickyRudyRobinRayClayDannyRandyBenny
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rocky | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 520 | #568 |
| 2024 | 419 | #656 |
| 2023 | 263 | #884 |
| 2022 | 268 | #884 |
| 2021 | 266 | #869 |
| 2020 | 264 | #860 |
| 2019 | 267 | #841 |
| 2018 | 237 | #907 |
| 2017 | 217 | #958 |
| 2016 | 217 | #954 |
| 2015 | 231 | #925 |
| 2014 | 211 | #986 |
| 2013 | 197 | #997 |
| 2012 | 188 | #1032 |
| 2011 | 186 | #1025 |
| 2010 | 164 | #1133 |
| 2009 | 187 | #1032 |
| 2008 | 197 | #992 |
| 2007 | 216 | #916 |
| 2006 | 189 | #980 |
| 2005 | 180 | #967 |
| 2004 | 159 | #1029 |
| 2003 | 160 | #992 |
| 2002 | 148 | #1033 |
| 2001 | 159 | #968 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rocky?
In official American birth records, the name Rocky first appeared in 1913 (over 112 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 112 years.
Is Rocky a popular boy name?
Rocky ranked #568 among boys in 2025 with 520 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #925.
When was the name Rocky most popular?
Rocky peaked in 1957, when 909 American boys received the name (ranked #252 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rocky?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,462 newborn American boys was named Rocky. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.