Rob Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Rob /rɒb/
Origin: Germanic; English
Meaning: Fame-bright; bright fame
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rob is derived from the Old High German name "Hrodebert," which is composed of the elements "hrod," meaning "fame," and "berht," meaning "bright" or "shining." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, first appearing in Latin as "Robertus" and then in Old French as "Robert." The name was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it became popular among the Anglo-Norman nobility and was eventually anglicized to Rob, often used as a diminutive form of Robert. Historically, the name Robert has significant milestones, including its association with several notable figures.
One of the earliest recorded bearers was Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots in the early 14th century, who became a national hero for his role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in 1611, where it is referenced in the context of biblical figures, further cementing its cultural significance.
Culturally, the name Rob and its variants have been associated with qualities such as strength and leadership, reflecting the meanings of its roots. The name has appeared in various literary works and folklore, contributing to its enduring presence in Western culture.
The diminutive form Rob has also been embraced in various contexts, often conveying familiarity and affection, which has helped maintain its relevance through the centuries.
Famous people named Rob
In this section, you will find notable people named Rob. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rob who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rob who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Rob Lowe is an actor best known for The Outsiders, St. Elmo's Fire, and Parks and Recreation.
Rob Schneider is an actor and comedian best known for Saturday Night Live, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, and The Hot Chick.
Rob Gronkowski is a former professional football player best known for his time with the New England Patriots and winning multiple Super Bowls.
Rob Reiner is a director and actor best known for This Is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally..., and A Few Good Men.
Rob Thomas is a musician best known as the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty and for his solo hit Smooth.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rob, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rob. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rob was first seen in the United States in 1884.
Rob has ranked as high as #685 nationally, which occurred in 1963, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Rob has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rob is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rob was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rob (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rob.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1996 | 19 |
| 1995 | 22 |
| 1994 | 20 |
| 1993 | 25 |
| 1992 | 39 |
| 1991 | 35 |
| 1990 | 36 |
| 1989 | 44 |
| 1988 | 57 |
| 1987 | 42 |
| 1986 | 41 |
| 1985 | 30 |
| 1984 | 42 |
| 1983 | 38 |
| 1982 | 53 |
| 1981 | 38 |
| 1980 | 58 |
| 1979 | 56 |
| 1978 | 78 |
| 1977 | 80 |
| 1976 | 70 |
| 1975 | 104 |
| 1974 | 116 |
| 1973 | 127 |
| 1972 | 201 |
| 1971 | 275 |
| 1970 | 334 |
| 1969 | 403 |
| 1968 | 334 |
| 1967 | 275 |
| 1966 | 327 |
| 1965 | 437 |
| 1964 | 546 |
| 1963 | 555 |
| 1962 | 487 |
| 1961 | 442 |
| 1960 | 354 |
| 1959 | 342 |
| 1958 | 316 |
| 1957 | 252 |
| 1956 | 171 |
| 1955 | 129 |
| 1954 | 113 |
| 1953 | 83 |
| 1952 | 58 |
| 1951 | 41 |
| 1950 | 45 |
| 1949 | 39 |
| 1948 | 48 |
| 1947 | 35 |
| 1946 | 30 |
| 1945 | 31 |
| 1944 | 25 |
| 1943 | 21 |
| 1942 | 10 |
| 1941 | 17 |
| 1940 | 13 |
| 1939 | 13 |
| 1938 | 13 |
| 1937 | 13 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 14 |
| 1934 | 13 |
| 1933 | 10 |
| 1932 | 17 |
| 1931 | 14 |
| 1930 | 17 |
| 1929 | 19 |
| 1928 | 15 |
| 1927 | 15 |
| 1926 | 11 |
| 1925 | 22 |
| 1924 | 14 |
| 1923 | 17 |
| 1922 | 20 |
| 1921 | 15 |
| 1920 | 17 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 18 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1913 | 7 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1895 | 6 |
| 1890 | 6 |
| 1885 | 6 |
| 1884 | 5 |