Fun Facts About the Name Roger
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 442,137 boys named Roger from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Roger stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 55 consecutive years, from 1921 through 1975.
- More than 443 thousand babies named Roger: U.S. records list 443,825 babies given the name Roger from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,688 girls received the name Roger - about 1 girl for every 262 boys.
What Does the Name Roger Mean?
Roger comes from the Old High German name Hruodgēr, formed from two elements: hruod, meaning "fame" or "glory," and gēr, meaning "spear." Literally it means "famous spear," a compound of the kind Germanic speakers commonly built for personal names. The same two elements appear in related names across the Germanic-speaking world, such as Old Norse Hróðgeirr and Old English Hrōðgār, the name behind Hrothgar in Beowulf; these are cognates, not sources, of Roger. Roger is the form the name took in Old French, and it is from French that English received it, so the English name is a French reshaping of a West Germanic original. The familiar gloss "renowned spearman" is a customary restatement of the same etymology, not a separate derivation.
Roger Name History & Origins
The name came to England with the Normans after 1066. In Old French it appears as Rogier, and in medieval Latin documents as Rotgerus and Rogerius; English adopted the French form. It was common in England through the Middle Ages, and it is recorded for figures such as the thirteenth-century scholar Roger Bacon and the baron Roger Mortimer (1287 - 1330). The Normans also carried the name to southern Italy and Sicily, where Roger I (d. 1101) and his son Roger II (d. 1154) ruled first as counts and then as kings.
The surname Rogers, along with the variant Rodgers, developed from the given name once it was well established in England; both survive mainly as family names. A separate and later association is the "Jolly Roger," the traditional name for a pirate flag. The origin of that phrase is uncertain, and it has no documented connection to the personal name's meaning.
How Popular is the Name Roger?
Roger remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1921 to 1975. Its highest annual birth count was in 1953, and people born that year turn 73 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #13,064 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #11,099 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #8,580 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #5,258 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #6,670 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #4,502 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #5,283 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #7,969 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #5,731 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #6,256 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #4,903 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1980 | #4,689 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1979 | #4,181 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1978 | #4,627 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #9,347 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #3,499 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1975 | #5,421 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #4,180 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #3,313 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #2,573 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1971 | #2,414 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1970 | #2,072 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 1969 | #2,495 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1968 | #2,157 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1967 | #1,816 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 1966 | #2,557 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #2,195 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1964 | #2,806 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1963 | #2,241 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #2,105 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #1,864 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1960 | #1,945 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1959 | #2,144 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1958 | #2,437 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,107 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1956 | #2,185 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1955 | #2,267 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #1,826 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1953 | #1,962 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1952 | #1,550 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1951 | #2,009 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1950 | #1,863 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1949 | #1,622 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1948 | #1,995 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1947 | #1,537 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 1946 | #1,613 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1945 | #1,329 | 37 | 0.0028% |
| 1944 | #1,600 | 27 | 0.0020% |
| 1943 | #1,248 | 43 | 0.0031% |
| 1942 | #1,467 | 32 | 0.0024% |
| 1941 | #1,740 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1940 | #1,511 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1939 | #1,416 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1938 | #2,007 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #1,726 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1936 | #1,585 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1935 | #2,192 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1934 | #1,825 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1933 | #2,036 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,621 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1931 | #1,496 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1930 | #1,651 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1929 | #1,279 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1928 | #1,669 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1927 | #1,664 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1926 | #1,985 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #2,746 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #2,642 | 14 | 0.0011% |
| 1923 | #2,700 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1922 | #2,580 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #4,379 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #3,896 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1919 | #2,971 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1918 | #4,212 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #3,042 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1916 | #3,861 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #4,838 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1912 | #3,349 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #834 | 297 | 0.0174% |
| 2024 | #750 | 340 | 0.0198% |
| 2023 | #760 | 343 | 0.0201% |
| 2022 | #749 | 342 | 0.0196% |
| 2021 | #685 | 388 | 0.0222% |
| 2020 | #685 | 375 | 0.0217% |
| 2019 | #694 | 362 | 0.0202% |
| 2018 | #637 | 413 | 0.0227% |
| 2017 | #627 | 417 | 0.0225% |
| 2016 | #645 | 409 | 0.0216% |
| 2015 | #581 | 479 | 0.0250% |
| 2014 | #583 | 477 | 0.0248% |
| 2013 | #556 | 476 | 0.0252% |
| 2012 | #564 | 459 | 0.0242% |
| 2011 | #535 | 477 | 0.0251% |
| 2010 | #510 | 504 | 0.0263% |
| 2009 | #497 | 550 | 0.0277% |
| 2008 | #462 | 598 | 0.0293% |
| 2007 | #468 | 582 | 0.0280% |
| 2006 | #456 | 594 | 0.0289% |
| 2005 | #417 | 644 | 0.0322% |
| 2004 | #413 | 630 | 0.0317% |
| 2003 | #394 | 664 | 0.0336% |
| 2002 | #386 | 676 | 0.0348% |
| 2001 | #369 | 719 | 0.0370% |
| 2000 | #372 | 703 | 0.0358% |
| 1999 | #358 | 730 | 0.0380% |
| 1998 | #347 | 769 | 0.0402% |
| 1997 | #327 | 804 | 0.0427% |
| 1996 | #285 | 957 | 0.0505% |
| 1995 | #278 | 1,002 | 0.0526% |
| 1994 | #264 | 1,071 | 0.0554% |
| 1993 | #253 | 1,132 | 0.0577% |
| 1992 | #214 | 1,440 | 0.0721% |
| 1991 | #231 | 1,294 | 0.0641% |
| 1990 | #211 | 1,456 | 0.0709% |
| 1989 | #196 | 1,477 | 0.0738% |
| 1988 | #180 | 1,578 | 0.0824% |
| 1987 | #176 | 1,559 | 0.0835% |
| 1986 | #167 | 1,608 | 0.0873% |
| 1985 | #159 | 1,706 | 0.0923% |
| 1984 | #157 | 1,719 | 0.0952% |
| 1983 | #144 | 1,870 | 0.1043% |
| 1982 | #127 | 2,167 | 0.1194% |
| 1981 | #120 | 2,244 | 0.1253% |
| 1980 | #134 | 2,074 | 0.1162% |
| 1979 | #132 | 2,024 | 0.1176% |
| 1978 | #120 | 2,143 | 0.1305% |
| 1977 | #114 | 2,313 | 0.1408% |
| 1976 | #103 | 2,465 | 0.1571% |
| 1975 | #97 | 2,619 | 0.1677% |
| 1974 | #93 | 2,754 | 0.1751% |
| 1973 | #85 | 3,154 | 0.2024% |
| 1972 | #75 | 3,534 | 0.2179% |
| 1971 | #71 | 4,128 | 0.2334% |
| 1970 | #61 | 4,584 | 0.2467% |
| 1969 | #59 | 4,905 | 0.2743% |
| 1968 | #55 | 5,185 | 0.2983% |
| 1967 | #53 | 5,721 | 0.3281% |
| 1966 | #51 | 6,297 | 0.3531% |
| 1965 | #49 | 6,432 | 0.3457% |
| 1964 | #49 | 7,387 | 0.3707% |
| 1963 | #53 | 7,743 | 0.3813% |
| 1962 | #47 | 9,077 | 0.4388% |
| 1961 | #47 | 9,651 | 0.4544% |
| 1960 | #47 | 9,043 | 0.4242% |
| 1959 | #47 | 8,794 | 0.4120% |
| 1958 | #47 | 8,368 | 0.3943% |
| 1957 | #42 | 9,865 | 0.4573% |
| 1956 | #41 | 10,151 | 0.4799% |
| 1955 | #37 | 10,982 | 0.5332% |
| 1954 | #34 | 11,716 | 0.5747% |
| 1953 | #31 | 13,171 | 0.6678% |
| 1952 | #30 | 12,132 | 0.6242% |
| 1951 | #29 | 12,425 | 0.6599% |
| 1950 | #27 | 12,552 | 0.7011% |
| 1949 | #25 | 12,821 | 0.7228% |
| 1948 | #24 | 12,818 | 0.7305% |
| 1947 | #25 | 12,760 | 0.6974% |
| 1946 | #23 | 12,410 | 0.7642% |
| 1945 | #22 | 10,570 | 0.7854% |
| 1944 | #23 | 10,581 | 0.7764% |
| 1943 | #24 | 10,772 | 0.7547% |
| 1942 | #25 | 9,174 | 0.6642% |
| 1941 | #25 | 8,094 | 0.6590% |
| 1940 | #26 | 7,597 | 0.6554% |
| 1939 | #28 | 7,155 | 0.6464% |
| 1938 | #31 | 6,551 | 0.5906% |
| 1937 | #36 | 5,712 | 0.5355% |
| 1936 | #35 | 5,701 | 0.5497% |
| 1935 | #36 | 5,152 | 0.4948% |
| 1934 | #39 | 4,765 | 0.4615% |
| 1933 | #48 | 3,917 | 0.3951% |
| 1932 | #50 | 3,788 | 0.3628% |
| 1931 | #53 | 3,625 | 0.3487% |
| 1930 | #58 | 3,246 | 0.2958% |
| 1929 | #64 | 2,928 | 0.2722% |
| 1928 | #71 | 2,774 | 0.2504% |
| 1927 | #84 | 2,408 | 0.2137% |
| 1926 | #89 | 2,260 | 0.2035% |
| 1925 | #90 | 2,099 | 0.1881% |
| 1924 | #93 | 2,054 | 0.1813% |
| 1923 | #95 | 1,888 | 0.1722% |
| 1922 | #96 | 1,848 | 0.1698% |
| 1921 | #99 | 1,803 | 0.1637% |
| 1920 | #103 | 1,691 | 0.1589% |
| 1919 | #124 | 1,298 | 0.1324% |
| 1918 | #116 | 1,426 | 0.1407% |
| 1917 | #119 | 1,249 | 0.1350% |
| 1916 | #129 | 1,087 | 0.1221% |
| 1915 | #124 | 1,086 | 0.1280% |
| 1914 | #126 | 816 | 0.1246% |
| 1913 | #138 | 565 | 0.1102% |
| 1912 | #138 | 464 | 0.1079% |
| 1911 | #139 | 241 | 0.1067% |
| 1910 | #171 | 176 | 0.0906% |
| 1909 | #180 | 128 | 0.0781% |
| 1908 | #186 | 115 | 0.0745% |
| 1907 | #170 | 127 | 0.0865% |
| 1906 | #194 | 94 | 0.0706% |
| 1905 | #225 | 73 | 0.0552% |
| 1904 | #194 | 91 | 0.0710% |
| 1903 | #188 | 86 | 0.0721% |
| 1902 | #210 | 73 | 0.0595% |
| 1901 | #227 | 60 | 0.0564% |
| 1900 | #221 | 81 | 0.0538% |
| 1899 | #199 | 67 | 0.0631% |
| 1898 | #202 | 74 | 0.0603% |
| 1897 | #230 | 58 | 0.0514% |
| 1896 | #215 | 70 | 0.0585% |
| 1895 | #207 | 69 | 0.0588% |
| 1894 | #225 | 58 | 0.0501% |
| 1893 | #254 | 49 | 0.0436% |
| 1892 | #241 | 55 | 0.0451% |
| 1891 | #217 | 55 | 0.0544% |
| 1890 | #232 | 52 | 0.0468% |
| 1889 | #232 | 49 | 0.0443% |
| 1888 | #259 | 47 | 0.0389% |
| 1887 | #259 | 39 | 0.0385% |
| 1886 | #308 | 32 | 0.0289% |
| 1885 | #331 | 27 | 0.0250% |
| 1884 | #277 | 39 | 0.0341% |
| 1883 | #355 | 23 | 0.0220% |
| 1882 | #310 | 32 | 0.0281% |
| 1881 | #305 | 29 | 0.0288% |
| 1880 | #348 | 25 | 0.0226% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
