Rhoads
A masculine name meaning "dweller near a rhos" (woodland valley).
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Rhoads. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rhoads today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rhoads births was 2014 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rhoads. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rhoads. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2014
5 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,668
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Rhoads: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rhoads from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhoads by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rhoads during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rhoads
The name Rhoads is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "rhodon," meaning "rose." This connection to the rose flower suggests the name may have been associated with beauty, elegance, and nature in its early usage.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rhoads can be found in ancient Greek literature, where it appears in the works of the playwright Aristophanes (c. 446 BC - c. 386 BC). However, the name's usage at that time is not well documented, and it is unclear whether it was a common name or reserved for specific individuals or characters.
During the Middle Ages, the name Rhoads gained popularity in parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences. It is believed that the name was brought to these areas by Greek scholars and travelers, who helped to spread the name's usage and popularity.
One notable individual with the name Rhoads was Rhoads Cannon (1776-1834), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 12th Governor of Tennessee. Cannon played a significant role in the early political landscape of Tennessee and was instrumental in shaping the state's governance during its formative years.
Another prominent figure with the name Rhoads was Rhoads Murphey (1811-1882), an American judge and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Alabama. Murphey's tenure as governor was marked by his efforts to promote education and infrastructure development in the state.
In the realm of literature, Rhoads Hoskins (1887-1966) was an American author and poet known for his works exploring the themes of nature and rural life. Hoskins' poetry and prose captured the essence of the American countryside and earned him recognition as a significant voice in regional literature.
In more recent history, Rhoads Murphey (1911-1989) was an American historian and scholar who specialized in the study of Asia and made significant contributions to the field of Asian studies. His influential works on the history and culture of Asia provided valuable insights and shaped academic discourse on the region.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Rhoads, showcasing the name's enduring presence across various fields and time periods.
People
Rhoads + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rhoads as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rhoads: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rhoads?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rhoads going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Rhoads a common name?
We classify Rhoads as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rhoads most popular?
The single biggest year for Rhoads was 2014, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rhoads is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Rhoads in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rhoads a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rhoads in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Rhoads still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rhoads in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Rhoads can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Rhoads?
You can see how many people share the name Rhoads on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.