Rodger
A male given name from the Germanic languages; a spelling variant of Roger reinforced by the surname.
Every Rodger since 1891 — 21,556 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rodger
Rodger is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,353 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1891, 21,556 American babies have been named Rodger. Its peak came in 1949, when 680 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
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 Rodger stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rodger year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #5,353 |
| 2024 | 9 | #8,836 |
| 2023 | 16 | #5,869 |
| 2022 | 16 | #5,819 |
| 2021 | 14 | #6,279 |
| 2020 | 17 | #5,412 |
| 2019 | 17 | #5,513 |
| 2018 | 21 | #4,709 |
| 2017 | 27 | #3,961 |
| 2016 | 25 | #4,174 |
| 2015 | 35 | #3,290 |
| 2014 | 29 | #3,674 |
| 2013 | 26 | #3,942 |
| 2012 | 20 | #4,822 |
| 2011 | 19 | #4,946 |
| 2010 | 12 | #7,013 |
| 2009 | 19 | #5,065 |
| 2008 | 30 | #3,629 |
| 2007 | 25 | #4,096 |
| 2006 | 34 | #3,205 |
| 2005 | 29 | #3,434 |
| 2004 | 28 | #3,437 |
| 2003 | 20 | #4,246 |
| 2002 | 37 | #2,627 |
| 2001 | 41 | #2,420 |
| 2000 | 34 | #2,724 |
| 1995 | 39 | #2,131 |
| 1990 | 75 | #1,284 |
| 1985 | 97 | #925 |
| 1980 | 130 | #772 |
| 1975 | 129 | #733 |
| 1970 | 256 | #504 |
| 1965 | 343 | #421 |
| 1960 | 454 | #370 |
| 1955 | 565 | #305 |
| 1950 | 606 | #268 |
| 1945 | 551 | #243 |
| 1940 | 315 | #319 |
| 1935 | 168 | #434 |
| 1930 | 131 | #525 |
| 1925 | 102 | #626 |
| 1920 | 82 | #720 |
| 1915 | 48 | #902 |
| 1910 | 5 | #1,797 |
| 1905 | 7 | #1,071 |
| 1900 | 5 | #1,469 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Rodger
- Rodger Ward Racing driver · 1921–2004
- Rodger Bumpass Actor · b. 1951
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rodger mean?
A male given name from the Germanic languages; a spelling variant of Roger reinforced by the surname.
How popular is the name Rodger in 2025?
Rodger ranked #5,353 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rodger?
21,556 babies have been named Rodger in the United States since 1891, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rodger most popular?
Rodger peaked in 1949, when 680 newborns received the name.
Is Rodger a boy or girl name?
Rodger is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rodger rising or falling?
Rodger is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rodger?
Well-known people named Rodger include Rodger Ward (racing driver), Rodger Bumpass (actor).