Rob Boy

Popularity: #931 · Trend: ↗ Rising

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.

BenSamTomMaxJakeDan

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.

RonRobbieRobbyRoderickRoccoRubenRoryRalph

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rob was first seen in the United States in 1884.

Rob has ranked as high as #730 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.

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 Total Births Boy
2025 7 7
2024 6 6
2023 11 11
2022 8 8
2021 9 9
2020 5 5
2019 8 8
2018 6 6
2017 10 10
2016 5 5
2014 14 14
2013 7 7
2012 8 8
2011 13 13
2010 14 14
2009 12 12
2008 10 10
2007 17 17
2005 13 13
2004 14 14
2003 12 12
2002 11 11
2001 14 14
2000 15 15
1999 18 18
1998 18 18
1997 14 14
1996 19 19
1995 22 22
1994 20 20
1993 25 25
1992 39 39
1991 35 35
1990 36 36
1989 44 44
1988 57 57
1987 42 42
1986 41 41
1985 30 30
1984 42 42
1983 38 38
1982 53 53
1981 38 38
1980 59 59
1979 56 56
1978 78 78
1977 80 80
1976 70 70
1975 104 104
1974 116 116
1973 127 127
1972 201 201
1971 275 275
1970 334 334
1969 403 403
1968 334 334
1967 275 275
1966 327 327
1965 437 437
1964 546 546
1963 555 555
1962 487 487
1961 442 442
1960 353 353
1959 342 342
1958 316 316
1957 252 252
1956 171 171
1955 129 129
1954 113 113
1953 83 83
1952 58 58
1951 41 41
1950 45 45
1949 39 39
1948 48 48
1947 35 35
1946 30 30
1945 31 31
1944 25 25
1943 21 21
1942 10 10
1941 17 17
1940 13 13
1939 13 13
1938 13 13
1937 13 13
1936 11 11
1935 14 14
1934 13 13
1933 10 10
1932 17 17
1931 14 14
1930 17 17
1929 19 19
1928 15 15
1927 15 15
1926 11 11
1925 22 22
1924 14 14
1923 17 17
1922 20 20
1921 15 15
1920 17 17
1919 12 12
1918 18 18
1917 11 11
1916 13 13
1915 8 8
1914 11 11
1913 7 7
1912 14 14
1895 6 6
1890 6 6
1885 6 6
1884 5 5

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
100%