Robney
Unusual combination name, having no clear origin or meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Robney. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Robney today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Robney births was 1963 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Robney. 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
- • The typical person named Robney is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Robneys were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Robney. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1963
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1963 SSA rank
#4,510
Tracked since 1963
Popularity
Robney: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Robney 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 Robney during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Robney
The name Robney originates from the Old Norse language spoken by the ancient Scandinavian peoples. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root word "rabnaz," which means "raven" or "dark-colored bird." In Old Norse, the name was spelled "Rafn," and it was a common name given to boys born during the Viking Age, around the 8th to 11th centuries.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Robney can be traced back to the Icelandic Sagas, which were written in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas often mentioned Norse warriors and explorers who bore the name Rafn or its variations, such as Rafnkell and Rafnvald.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Robney was Rafn Sveinbjarnarson, an Icelandic chieftain and lawspeaker who lived from 1115 to 1192. He is remembered for his role in the Sturlung Age, a period of civil strife in Iceland.
Another famous bearer of the name was Rafn the Limerick-Maker, a Norwegian skald (poet) who lived in the late 12th century. He was renowned for his skill in composing intricate and witty verses, many of which have been preserved in ancient manuscripts.
In the 13th century, a Danish nobleman named Rafn Eriksen played a significant role in the conquest of Estonia during the Northern Crusades. He was appointed as the first Bishop of Estonia by King Valdemar II in 1219.
During the 15th century, a Scottish warrior named Robney Douglas gained fame for his bravery in the battles against the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and his exploits were recorded in historical chronicles of the time.
Another notable figure was Robney Macdonald, a Scottish chieftain who lived in the late 16th century. He was known for his involvement in the clan conflicts and battles that plagued the Scottish Highlands during that era.
While the name Robney has its roots in the Norse and Scandinavian cultures, it has been adopted and adapted by various other cultures throughout history. The name has evolved over time, with different spellings and variations emerging in different regions and languages.
People
Robney + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Robney 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
Robney: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Robney?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Robney 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Robney a common name?
We classify Robney as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Robney most popular?
The single biggest year for Robney was 1963, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Robney is about 67 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 Robney in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Robney a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Robney 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 Robney still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Robney 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 Robney 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 have Robney as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Robney on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.