Roderick Boy

Popularity: #845 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROD-er-ick /ˈrɒdərɪk/

Origin: Germanic; Old High German

Meaning: Famous ruler; renowned power

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Roderick has its roots in the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "fame," and "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power." This etymological foundation can be traced back to the Old High German form "Hrodrich," which evolved into the Old French "Roderic" before entering the English language. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Norman names, including Roderick, were assimilated into the English lexicon, influenced by the cultural and linguistic shifts of the time.

Historically, the name Roderick is associated with several notable figures, including Roderick, the last king of the Visigoths, who ruled in the early 8th century. His reign ended with the Muslim conquest of Hispania, marking a significant turning point in Iberian history.

The name also appears in various literary works, such as Sir Walter Scott's 1811 novel "The Pirate," which features a character named Roderick. Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints and nobles throughout medieval Europe, further embedding it in historical narratives.

Culturally, Roderick has been associated with themes of leadership and valor, resonating through its meaning of "famous ruler." This connection to nobility and strength has contributed to its enduring presence in literature and historical texts. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Rod and Rick, which have been used in different contexts throughout history.

Overall, Roderick's linguistic roots and historical significance reflect a rich tapestry of cultural heritage that has allowed the name to persist through the centuries.

Famous people named Roderick

In this section, you will find notable people named Roderick. 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 Roderick who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Roderick 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.

Roderick Strong is a professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE and Ring of Honor.

Fictional characters named Roderick

The following list of fictional characters named Roderick is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Roderick Usher is a fictional character from the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. He is the troubled heir of the Usher family, suffering from a mysterious illness and a deteriorating mental state.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Roderick, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RobertRichardRonaldRalphRileyRaymond

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Roderick. 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.

RodneyRodericRoderigoRodericksonRoderique

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Roderick was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Roderick has ranked as high as #492 nationally, which occurred in 1971, and has been most popular in Texas, Alabama, California, Georgia, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Roderick has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Roderick 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 Roderick 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 Roderick.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 93 93 0
2024 83 83 0
2023 82 82 0
2022 103 103 0
2021 96 96 0
2020 100 100 0
2019 134 134 0
2018 132 132 0
2017 160 160 0
2016 199 199 0
2015 185 185 0
2014 178 178 0
2013 178 178 0
2012 204 204 0
2011 220 220 0
2010 206 206 0
2009 229 229 0
2008 217 217 0
2007 255 255 0
2006 292 292 0
2005 249 249 0
2004 265 265 0
2003 240 240 0
2002 305 305 0
2001 288 288 0
2000 310 310 0
1999 331 331 0
1998 290 290 0
1997 356 356 0
1996 361 361 0
1995 399 399 0
1994 439 439 0
1993 489 489 0
1992 511 511 0
1991 540 540 0
1990 599 599 0
1989 610 610 0
1988 574 568 6
1987 605 597 8
1986 640 631 9
1985 675 668 7
1984 638 629 9
1983 692 682 10
1982 751 740 11
1981 756 742 14
1980 768 758 10
1979 756 746 10
1978 704 691 13
1977 766 760 6
1976 797 783 14
1975 807 796 11
1974 891 879 12
1973 917 909 8
1972 949 940 9
1971 1,067 1,057 10
1970 1,045 1,037 8
1969 990 981 9
1968 1,006 997 9
1967 1,019 1,008 11
1966 968 961 7
1965 1,005 997 8
1964 1,026 1,026 0
1963 996 989 7
1962 944 933 11
1961 905 900 5
1960 846 846 0
1959 806 806 0
1958 705 700 5
1957 766 766 0
1956 688 682 6
1955 646 646 0
1954 572 572 0
1953 632 632 0
1952 546 546 0
1951 466 466 0
1950 475 475 0
1949 401 401 0
1948 364 364 0
1947 368 368 0
1946 302 302 0
1945 248 248 0
1944 234 234 0
1943 222 222 0
1942 202 202 0
1941 160 160 0
1940 162 162 0
1939 189 189 0
1938 191 191 0
1937 188 188 0
1936 180 180 0
1935 151 151 0
1934 170 170 0
1933 166 166 0
1932 140 140 0
1931 156 156 0
1930 153 153 0
1929 177 177 0
1928 182 182 0
1927 178 178 0
1926 174 174 0
1925 148 148 0
1924 140 140 0
1923 131 131 0
1922 137 137 0
1921 106 106 0
1920 105 105 0
1919 76 76 0
1918 90 90 0
1917 96 96 0
1916 82 82 0
1915 84 84 0
1914 65 65 0
1913 74 74 0
1912 46 46 0
1911 17 17 0
1910 14 14 0
1909 11 11 0
1908 13 13 0
1907 9 9 0
1906 12 12 0
1905 5 5 0
1904 9 9 0
1903 14 14 0
1902 8 8 0
1901 8 8 0
1900 13 13 0
1899 6 6 0
1898 12 12 0
1897 9 9 0
1896 9 9 0
1894 10 10 0
1893 6 6 0
1892 7 7 0
1891 15 15 0
1890 8 8 0
1889 9 9 0
1888 7 7 0
1887 13 13 0
1886 5 5 0
1885 8 8 0
1884 5 5 0
1882 6 6 0
1880 7 7 0

Top States for Roderick (2024)

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
TX 8
25%
CA 8
25%
GA 6
19%
LA 5
16%
AL 5
16%