Where does the name Rodney come from?

Rodney is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Rodney a boy or a girl name?

Rodney is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Rodney are girls and 100% are boys.

How popular is the name Rodney in 2023?

Rodney ranks #1148 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1965 with 11,132 babies.

How do you pronounce Rodney?

Rodney is pronounced ROD-nee (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Rodney?

Rodney is also written as Rod, Roddy.

A name from Old English · Boy

Rodney

From an Old English place name combining a personal name Hroda ('famous') with eg ('island'); originally a surname tied to Stoke Rodney in Somerset. Adopted as a given name in 18th-century Britain.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

246,751 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

183 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

RFrom an Old English place name combining a personal name Hroda ('famous') with eg ('island'); originally a surname tied to Stoke Rodney in Somerset. Adopted as a given name in 18th-century Britain.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Rodney".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Rod Most common Roddy

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Rodney.

R
Rodney Dangerfield (comedian)
R
Rodney King (civil rights figure)
R
Rod Stewart (singer; surname variant)

Quick answers

People often ask about Rodney.

What does the name Rodney mean?: Rodney means from an Old English place name combining a personal name Hroda ('famous') with eg ('island'); originally a surname tied to Stoke Rodney in Somerset. Adopted as a given name in 18th-century Britain.
Where does the name Rodney come from?: Rodney is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Rodney a boy or a girl name?: Rodney is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 0% of children given the name Rodney are girls and 100% are boys.
How popular is the name Rodney in 2023?: Rodney ranks #1148 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1965 with 11,132 babies.
How do you pronounce Rodney?: Rodney is pronounced ROD-nee (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Rodney?: Rodney is also written as Rod, Roddy.

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From the Old English brad ('broad') + leah ('wood, clearing'); 'broad meadow'

Dale

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From Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley

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From Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl

Todd

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From the Middle English surname todde meaning 'fox' — a nickname applied to a cunning or fox-haired person

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.