Roddy
Meaningfamous ruler · English form of Roderick
- US rank
- #7,679
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #746 in 1946
10 babies were named Roddy in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,875 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Roddy you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Roddy
Roddy McDowall
British actor (1928–1998)
Choose Roddy and your child shares a first name with Roddy McDowall, a British actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Roddy, like who?” Roddy McDowall's Wikipedia article is available in 42 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Roddy McDowall on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 169,492 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Roddy, 10 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Roddy would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRoddy first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1946, when it ranked #746. Today it's #7,679, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendRoddy has climbed 1,875 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #7,679. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningRoddy is an English form of Roderick, which means “famous ruler”. Our records link it to English and German roots.
About the name Roddy
Roddy is a boy name of English and German origin meaning “famous ruler”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-ddy”. US birth records list Roddy for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 103 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1946, when it ranked #746 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #7,679, with 10 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 3.0 | 327,869 boys |
| 1920s | 8.3 | 120,773 boys |
| 1930s | 19 | 52,826 boys |
| 1940s | 32 | 31,377 boys |
| 1950s | 24 | 41,632 boys |
| 1960s | 29 | 34,435 boys |
| 1970s | 17 | 60,205 boys |
| 1980s | 8.5 | 117,786 boys |
| 1990s | 5.6 | 179,856 boys |
| 2000s | 3.1 | 318,471 boys |
| 2010s | 3.5 | 285,714 boys |
| 2020s | 3.0 | 333,333 boys |
Other spellings of Roddy
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 Roddy
What does the name Roddy mean?
Roddy means “famous ruler” in English, as a form of Roderick.
What is the origin of the name Roddy?
Roddy has English, German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Roddy a boy or girl name?
Roddy is a boy name.
How popular is the name Roddy?
Roddy ranked #7,679 for US boys in 2025, given to 10 babies. Its best year was 1946 (#746).