Rooney
Rooney is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Descendant of the champion or hero.
Origin and history
Rooney is a name of Irish origin derived from the Gaelic surname Ó Ruanaidh, meaning descendant of Ruanadh (hero or champion). Historically used primarily as a surname, it has seen increasing use as a unisex given name in the United States. In recent years, it has gained moderate traction for boys as part of the trend toward using Irish family names.
Popularity in the United States
671 babies in the United States have been named Rooney since 1880. It ranks #4005 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1765.
States where it is most popular
- CA (85.5 %)
- NY (7.9 %)
- FL (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 5 |
| 1950-1960 | 47 |
| 1960-1970 | 37 |
| 1970-1980 | 28 |
| 1980-1990 | 18 |
| 1990-2000 | 13 |
| 2000-2010 | 93 |
| 2010-2019 | 268 |
| 2020-2029 | 162 |
Fun facts
- The original Irish root word 'ruanaidh' translates to champion, hero, or brave person.
- Rooney follows the popular modern U.S. trend of transferring traditional Irish surnames into modern given names.