Rodney
Boy name · #1092 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Rodney? In official American birth records, Rodney has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 197 baby boys were named Rodney, placing it at #1092 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #714, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,137 boys born in 2025 was named Rodney.
The 145-year story
Rodney first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1965, when 11,086 boys were named Rodney — good for #33 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.
Babies named Rodney per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rodney against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rodney in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rodney is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rodney will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rodney is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rodney is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Rodney is most common in VA (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.3 per 1,000), NC (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Rodney is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Rodney
Statistically, parents drawn to Rodney tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Randy, Stoney, Ricky, Stanley, and Rickey.
RandyStoneyRickyStanleyRickeyTerryJeffreyBarry
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rodney | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 197 | #1091 |
| 2024 | 202 | #1076 |
| 2023 | 183 | #1144 |
| 2022 | 228 | #990 |
| 2021 | 234 | #957 |
| 2020 | 262 | #863 |
| 2019 | 262 | #853 |
| 2018 | 273 | #820 |
| 2017 | 301 | #777 |
| 2016 | 341 | #717 |
| 2015 | 347 | #714 |
| 2014 | 357 | #696 |
| 2013 | 392 | #627 |
| 2012 | 430 | #593 |
| 2011 | 461 | #553 |
| 2010 | 460 | #549 |
| 2009 | 554 | #492 |
| 2008 | 545 | #503 |
| 2007 | 639 | #438 |
| 2006 | 606 | #447 |
| 2005 | 579 | #447 |
| 2004 | 602 | #432 |
| 2003 | 688 | #378 |
| 2002 | 714 | #369 |
| 2001 | 740 | #358 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rodney?
In official American birth records, the name Rodney first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rodney a popular boy name?
Rodney ranked #1092 among boys in 2025 with 197 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #714.
When was the name Rodney most popular?
Rodney peaked in 1965, when 11,086 American boys received the name (ranked #33 that year). Since 1965 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rodney?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,137 newborn American boys was named Rodney. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.