Rocky

Rocky - A very unique male name

Rocky appeared on the charts for the first time in 1920 on position #1917. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rocky and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rocky? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Rocky. The baby boy name Rocky was given to 469 baby boys in 2025, ranking #582 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,126 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rocky peaked in popularity 71 years ago in 1955 on position 240.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rocky, 1-5?

Rocky is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rocky is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #86 - and is the least popular in North Carolina at position #857.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Rocky is where you live.

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Rocky origin and meaning

English word / nickname

Rocky; from the English word rock, as a nickname name

Rocky began as a nickname for Rocco and for tough, rock-solid characters, then stood alone as a boy's name from 1920. It peaked in 1957 with boxer Rocky Marciano's era and is rising again, helped by vintage tough-guy charm.

Attested etymology

Rocky is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Rocky, pop culture references for the name Rocky and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Rocky

We've found the following names that sound similar to Rocky, sorted by popularity.

Ricky / Rick / Ross / Rickey / Rex / Rocco / Royce / Reece / Reese / Roscoe /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Rocky

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Rocky a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Rocky?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

ROK-ee · /ˈrɑki/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Rocky Marciano — American heavyweight boxing champion, born Rocco Marciano and known as Rocky (1923–1969) Historical
• Rocky Balboa — Boxer hero of the Rocky films (Fictional, 1976) Fictional

Style

Nickname nameWord name

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Rocky for its scrappy, energetic, retro-cool feel. It is playful for a child and characterful for a man.

Worth knowing

• Strongly tied to the Rocky films and boxing — a fun association, but a loud one
• Often assumed to be a nickname for Rocco