Boy · 36th of 7,552
Roger
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
443,528
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1953
Peak Popularity Year
13,199
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Roger stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
The name Roger originates from Old French, meaning 'famous spear,' with roots in Germanic language elements. Its historical path includes forms like Hrodger and Rogier before settling into its modern form. The name is associated with traits of reliability and strength, and it has no biblical relevance. Roger gained prominence in England post-Norman Conquest and has notable variants like Rog and Rogers. Today, it is considered a classic name, though its popularity has waned.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈrɒdʒər/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Roger is derived from the Old French name 'Rogier', which itself comes from the Germanic elements 'hrod' meaning 'fame' and 'ger' meaning 'spear'.
Meaning
Famous spear
Language Evolution
Hrodger (Old German), Roger (Old French), Roger (Middle English), Roger (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Roger gained popularity in England after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century and remained common throughout the Middle Ages.
Variants & Derivatives
Rog, Roggie, Rogers
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Roger is viewed as a classic name, often associated with reliability and strength, though its usage has declined in recent years.
Famous People
Roger Federer, Roger Moore, Roger Ebert, Roger Clemens
Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
Explore popularity by location
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 13,199 peak births in 1953
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in West Virginia
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 2 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
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
Full popularity table across American generations 12 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 110th of 7545 | 25,306 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 36th of 6773 | 112,102 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 36th of 7552 | 203,866 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 75th of 10718 | 60,332 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 194th of 16616 | 24,280 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 425th of 24088 | 10,103 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 657th of 23106 | 4,821 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3044th of 9107 | 160 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1576th of 9204 | 460 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2008th of 12526 | 565 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2991st of 19264 | 376 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 8464th of 27321 | 127 |