Rodney

Rodney - A very unique male name

Rodney appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #639. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rodney and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rodney? 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 Rodney. The baby boy name Rodney was given to 137 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1134 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 10,703 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rodney peaked in popularity 61 years ago in 1965 on position 33.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rodney, 1-5?

Rodney is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rodney is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #510 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,798.

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 Rodney is where you live.

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Rodney origin and meaning

English surname and place name, transferred to given use

A transferred surname from an English place name built on the Old English personal name Hroda plus eg, 'island' — 'Hroda's island (dry ground in marsh)'

Rodney was a surname and minor place name that became a mainstream first name after the Second World War, peaking in 1965. It has been in steady decline for decades and now sits far from fashion, carried mostly by men of their fathers' and grandfathers' generations.

Attested etymology

Rodney is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Rodney

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

Raiden / Rayden / Ryden / Rodman / Ridwan / Ridhaan / Rhythm / Reyden / Raidyn / Royden /

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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 Rodney

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 Rodney 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 Rodney?

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

ROD-nee · /ˈrɑdni/

Around the world

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

Spellings and nicknames

• Rodny — Occasional respelling, not a separate SSA entry

Nicknames: Rod

Famous bearers

• Rodney Dangerfield — American comedian of 'I don't get no respect' fame; born Jacob Cohen and famous under the stage name Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004) Contemporary
• Rodney King — American man whose videotaped 1991 beating by Los Angeles police officers became a landmark in debates over policing (1965–2012) Contemporary

Style

SurnameClassic

Why parents choose it

Rodney today is nearly always a family honour name; its mid-century familiarity is the appeal, not trendiness.

Worth knowing

• Strong mid-century stamp; 'Rodney' jokes from Dangerfield's era still circulate