Find out how popular the first name Rod has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rod by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rod is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rod.

The history of the first name Rod

The name Rod is a masculine given name derived from the Old English word "rod," which means "a slim shoot or branch." It has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon culture that thrived in England during the 5th to 11th centuries.

The name's earliest known use dates back to the 12th century, as evidenced by records from the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions individuals bearing the name Rodbert and Roderic, which are believed to be early variations of the name Rod.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Rod can be found in the writings of the 12th-century English historian, William of Malmesbury, who mentioned a figure named Rod de Walpole in his work "Gesta Regum Anglorum" (Deeds of the English Kings).

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rod. One of the earliest was Rod of Alcala, a 15th-century Spanish friar and missionary who was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1888. Another prominent figure was Rod Paterson (1917-1992), an Australian rules football player and coach who was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

In the world of sports, Rod Laver (born 1938) is a legendary Australian tennis player who achieved the calendar Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969, winning all four major championships in the same year. Rod Carew (born 1945) is a former Major League Baseball player and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, known for his exceptional batting skills.

In the realm of entertainment, Rod Serling (1924-1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, and television producer, best known for creating and narrating the iconic science fiction anthology series "The Twilight Zone." Rod Stewart (born 1945) is a British rock singer and songwriter, renowned for his distinctive raspy voice and hits like "Maggie May" and "Tonight's the Night."

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Rod, a name with roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture and a long-standing presence in the English-speaking world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rod was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rod, please contact us.

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