Rod
Rod is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Fame or famous, often derived as a short form of Roderick or Rodney.
Origin and history
Rod originated as a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'rod', meaning fame. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, often used as a diminutive for Roderick, Rodney, or Rodgers. Although less common in recent birth records, it remains a familiar traditional masculine short name in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
8,744 babies in the United States have been named Rod since 1880. It ranks #1292 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1913.
States where it is most popular
- CA (25 %)
- OH (7.4 %)
- MI (7.4 %)
- WA (7.1 %)
- IL (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 32 |
| 1920-1930 | 72 |
| 1930-1940 | 232 |
| 1940-1950 | 990 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,025 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,746 |
| 1970-1980 | 923 |
| 1980-1990 | 316 |
| 1990-2000 | 229 |
| 2000-2010 | 113 |
| 2010-2019 | 52 |
| 2020-2029 | 14 |
Famous people named Rod
- Rod Stewart: Singer, Songwriter
- Rod Serling: Screenwriter, Producer
- Rod Laver: Tennis Player
Fun facts
- Rod developed primarily as an informal short form for longer names like Roderick, Rodney, or Rodgers before becoming an independent given name.
- The name saw its highest U.S. birth registry usage during the 1950s and 1960s.