Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1960

Rod

Meaning A nickname for the male given names Rodney and Roderick Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A nickname for the male given names Rodney and Roderick.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Rod
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1960
496 babies
All-time total
8,744
#1,306 all-time among boys
First recorded
1910
in Social Security records

Rod popularity over time

8,744 babies have been named Rod since 1910, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1965Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 32 3 – #1,555
1920s 72 7 +125% #2,033
1930s 232 23 +222% #1,004
1940s 990 99 +327% #486
1950s 2,025 203 +105% #358
1960s 3,746 375 +85% #344
1970s 923 92 -75% #581
1980s 316 32 -66% #1,540
1990s 229 23 -28% #2,077
2000s 113 11 -51% #4,346
2010s 52 5 -54% #7,506
2020s (to 2025) 14 2 -55% #10,568

The story of Rod

Rod is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1910, 8,744 American babies have been named Rod. Its peak came in 1960, when 496 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rod stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Rod?

The median living Rod is about 62 years old; half are between 56 and 67. An estimated 6,800 people named Rod are alive in the United States today.

median 62 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Rod year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 7 #10,583
2022 – –
2021 7 #10,568
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 11 #7,506
2015 6 #11,808
2014 5 #13,653
2013 9 #8,628
2012 8 #9,526
2011 7 #10,546
2010 6 #11,893
2009 5 #14,073
2008 7 #10,786
2007 13 #6,538
2006 12 #6,824
2005 10 #7,542
2004 8 #8,756
2003 16 #4,992
2002 11 #6,434
2001 13 #5,610
2000 18 #4,346
1995 26 #2,833
1990 36 #2,077
1985 28 #2,057
1980 40 #1,540
1975 78 #931
1970 193 #581
1965 494 #344
1960 496 #350
1955 156 #588
1950 82 #759
1945 95 #623
1940 34 #1,153
1935 28 #1,291
1930 17 #1,880
1925 8 #3,347
1920 8 #3,437
1915 6 #3,753
1910 6 #1,555
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Rod

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Rod Stewart Rod Stewart British singer-songwriter (born 1945) Contemporary
  2. 2 Rod Serling Rod Serling American screenwriter (1924–1975) Contemporary
  3. 3 Rod Steiger Rod Steiger American actor (1925–2002) Contemporary
  4. 4 Rod Taylor Rod Taylor Australian actor (1930–2015) Contemporary
  5. 5 Rod Blagojevich Rod Blagojevich Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009 b. 1956 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Rod Laver Rod Laver Australian tennis player (born 1938) Contemporary
  7. 7 Rod Temperton Rod Temperton English songwriter, producer and musician (1949–2016) Contemporary
  8. 8 Rod Roddy Rod Roddy American radio and television announcer (1937–2003) Contemporary
  9. 9 Rod Evans Rod Evans English retired singer (born 1947) Contemporary
  10. 10 Rod La Rocque Rod La Rocque American actor (1898–1969) 19th century
  11. 11 Rod Grams Rod Grams American politician (1948–2013) Contemporary
  12. 12 Rod Fanni Rod Fanni French footballer (born 1981) Contemporary
  13. 13 Rod Milburn Rod Milburn American hurdler (1950–1997) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Rod, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Rod?

The median living Rod is about 62 years old. Half of all living Rods are between 56 and 67 years old.

How many people named Rod are alive today?

An estimated 6,800 people named Rod are alive in the United States, based on 8,744 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Rod mean?

A nickname for the male given names Rodney and Roderick.

How popular is the name Rod in 2025?

Rod did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Rod?

8,744 babies have been named Rod in the United States since 1910, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rod most popular?

Rod peaked in 1960, when 496 newborns received the name.

Is Rod a boy or girl name?

Rod is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rod rising or falling?

Rod is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Rod?

Well-known people named Rod include Rod Stewart (singer), Rod Serling (writer), Rod Steiger (actor).

Names like Rod

Names that sound and feel close to Rod: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Rod with similar names → More names starting with R →