Robert Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Robert is of Old Germanic origin, meaning 'fame, bright'. It evolved from historical forms such as Hrodebert and Robertus. The name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history and continues to be perceived positively in contemporary culture.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Robert"
Pronunciation
/ˈrɒb.ərt/
Origin
Old Germanic
Etymology
The name Robert comes from the Old High German name 'Hrodebert', which is composed of the elements 'hrod', meaning 'fame', and 'beraht', meaning 'bright'.
Meaning
fame, bright
Language Evolution
Hrodebert, Robertus, Roberto, Roberto, Robert
Historical Usage
The name Robert gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in England and France, due to the influence of various kings and nobles named Robert.
Variants & Derivatives
Rob, Robbie, Bobby, Robby, Roberta
Modern Popularity & Image
Robert remains a widely used name today, often associated with strength, leadership, and reliability.
Famous People
Robert Frost, Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Downey Jr., Robert Pattinson, Robert De Niro
📊 Robert Name Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 91,891 peak births in 1947
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Rhode Island
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Robert" - Complete Guide (5 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Robert". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Robert" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Robert"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Robert"
"Robert" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4th of 7545 | 727,079 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1st of 6773 | 1,124,280 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2nd of 7552 | 1,531,022 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5th of 10718 | 726,799 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11th of 16616 | 446,487 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 32nd of 24088 | 174,539 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 70th of 23106 | 61,643 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 483rd of 9107 | 3,590 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 422nd of 9204 | 4,863 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 615th of 12526 | 4,383 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 625th of 19264 | 4,242 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1118th of 27321 | 2,401 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6725th of 35406 | 280 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 16778th of 30306 | 42 |
Regional Popularity of "Robert" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
0.07% 1st/1416 |
0.29% 4th/1379 |
0.17% 4th/2366 |
0.09% 1st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
0.06% 1st/1546 |
0.06% 1st/1556 |
0.13% 3rd/2353 |
0.06% 1st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
0.22% 5th/2227 |
0.08% 2nd/2430 |
0.07% 2nd/2853 |
0.11% 3rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
0.17% 5th/2937 |
0.11% 4th/3483 |
0.17% 6th/3518 |
0.07% 3rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
0.43% 16th/3685 |
0.20% 9th/4475 |
0.21% 11th/5194 |
0.14% 9th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.00% 46th/4582 |
0.60% 31st/5164 |
0.40% 29th/7313 |
0.59% 44th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
1.98% 79th/3984 |
1.34% 60th/4487 |
0.91% 62nd/6822 |
1.39% 87th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Robert" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
25.78% 365th/1416 |
27.34% 377th/1379 |
22.15% 524th/2366 |
64.36% 735th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
22.90% 354th/1546 |
22.11% 344th/1556 |
19.08% 449th/2353 |
35.68% 552nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
28.42% 633rd/2227 |
22.55% 548th/2430 |
21.00% 599th/2853 |
26.81% 744th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
21.28% 625th/2937 |
17.20% 599th/3483 |
18.28% 643rd/3518 |
17.14% 693rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
31.61% 1165th/3685 |
22.46% 1005th/4475 |
19.43% 1009th/5194 |
19.63% 1240th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
94.17% 4863rd/5164 |
69.51% 5083rd/7313 |
94.43% 7047th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Robert"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Robert" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Robert" in the United States
The name Robert is most popular in Rhode Island, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Robert has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Robert' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 32nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 70th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 483rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 422nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 615th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 625th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1118th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6725th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 16778th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Robert' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.