Robert
Boy name · English · French · German
Meaningbright fame · Germanic
- US rank
- #92
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1 in 1953
3,772 babies were named Robert in the US in 2025. It has dropped 12 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Robert you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Robert
Robert Louis Stevenson
Scottish novelist and poet (1850–1894)
Choose Robert and your child shares a first name with Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist and poet. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Robert, like who?” Robert Louis Stevenson's Wikipedia article is available in 154 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Robert Louis Stevenson on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Henry Walter Barnett, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 453 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Robert, 3,772 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Robert.
- HistoryRobert has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Roberts, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1953, when it ranked #1. Today it's #92, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowRobert was 3.2× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 143 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 453.
- Where it's lovedRobert is most popular in Vermont, where it ranks #37, followed by Alabama (#42) and Washington, D.C. (#43). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Germanic, Robert means “bright fame”. Our records link it to English, French and German roots.
- OriginRobert is the #10 most popular French boy name in the US. That's out of 1,896 French boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Robert
Robert is a boy name of English, French and German origin meaning “bright fame”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-ert”. US birth records list Robert for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1953, when it ranked #1 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #92, with 3,772 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 21,952 | 46 boys |
| 1890s | 22,922 | 44 boys |
| 1900s | 26,299 | 38 boys |
| 1910s | 34,009 | 29 boys |
| 1920s | 52,271 | 19 boys |
| 1930s | 55,908 | 18 boys |
| 1940s | 51,145 | 20 boys |
| 1950s | 41,276 | 24 boys |
| 1960s | 33,739 | 30 boys |
| 1970s | 23,935 | 42 boys |
| 1980s | 17,469 | 57 boys |
| 1990s | 10,494 | 95 boys |
| 2000s | 5,359 | 187 boys |
| 2010s | 3,325 | 301 boys |
| 2020s | 2,346 | 426 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Robert
What does the name Robert mean?
Robert means “bright fame” in Germanic.
What is the origin of the name Robert?
Robert has English, French, German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Robert a boy or girl name?
Robert is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Robert?
Robert ranked #92 for US boys in 2025, given to 3,772 babies. Its best year was 1953 (#1).