Rutger
Boy name · Dutch · German · Scandinavian
Meaningfamous spear · Dutch form of Roger
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,943 in 1993
5 babies were named Rutger in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1987–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Rutger you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Rutger
Rutger Hauer
Dutch actor (1944–2019)
Choose Rutger and your child shares a first name with Rutger Hauer, a Dutch actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Rutger, like who?” Rutger Hauer's Wikipedia article is available in 69 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Rutger Hauer on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: DWDD, CC BY 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Rutger, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Rutger would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRutger first shows up in US birth records in 1987, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 38 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1993, when it ranked #2,943. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowRutger was 2.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 151,515 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 344,828.
- MeaningRutger is a Dutch form of Roger, which means “famous spear”. Our records link it to Dutch, German and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Rutger
Rutger is a boy name of Dutch, German and Scandinavian origin meaning “famous spear”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-ger”. US birth records list Rutger for boys from 1987 to 2025, in 26 of those 39 years. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked #2,943 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:Dutch namesGerman namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.8 | 357,143 boys |
| 1990s | 7.8 | 129,032 boys |
| 2000s | 4.3 | 232,019 boys |
| 2010s | 0.6 | 1,724,138 boys |
| 2020s | 1.0 | 1,034,483 boys |
More Dutch boy names
- Boy name: Hendrix · ruler of the home
- Boy name: Johan · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Skyler · scholar
- Unisex name: Van · of, from
- Boy name: Henrik · home ruler
- Unisex name: Sky · sky
- Boy name: Hendrick · home ruler
- Boy name: Bram · father of multitudes
Questions about the name Rutger
What does the name Rutger mean?
Rutger means “famous spear” in Dutch, as a form of Roger.
What is the origin of the name Rutger?
Rutger has Dutch, German, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other Dutch names include Hendrix, Johan, Skyler.
Is Rutger a boy or girl name?
Rutger is a boy name.
How popular is the name Rutger?
Rutger ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1993 (#2,943).