Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Roger
BoyGermanic, French· “famous spear”
- Meaning
- famous spear
- Origin
- Germanic, French
- Pronunciation
- RAH-jur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #834
- US babies 2025
- 297
- Best rank
- #22 (1945)
- Peak year
- 1953
Meaning and origin of Roger
Roger is a Germanic and French name that means “famous spear”.
Roger comes from the Germanic Hrodgar, built from hrod, "fame", and gar, "spear", so it means "famous spear". The Normans brought it to England, where it became common in the Middle Ages, and two Norman rulers named Roger established the Kingdom of Sicily. The English philosopher Roger Bacon was a notable medieval bearer. In radio communication, "roger" came to mean "received", from the old phonetic alphabet. Roger is friendly, solid and a little retro, and it has been borne by many athletes and entertainers. Rog and Hodge are traditional short forms.
Other spellings with the same sound: Rodger.
Popularity over time
Roger has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #22 in 1945, and the most babies received it in 1953, when 13,172 were named Roger. In 2025, 297 babies were named Roger, and it ranked #834 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #103 in 1920, #27 in 1950, #134 in 1980, #372 in 2000, #510 in 2010, and #834 in 2025. Of the 442,142 US boys named Roger since records began, 25% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 107,602 babies. Since 2010, 6,562 more have been named Roger.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Lawrence, Danny, Stanley, Philip, and Stephen.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Roger ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Oregon.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #569 | 17 |
| Nevada | #580 | 5 |
| Oregon | #588 | 6 |
| North Carolina | #616 | 16 |
| Michigan | #635 | 13 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Roger is usually pronounced RAH-jur, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-er”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Rodger.
Middle names for Roger
A few middle names that flow with Roger: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Roger
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Lists that include Roger
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Roger mean?
Roger is a Germanic and French name that means “famous spear”.
What is the origin of the name Roger?
Roger has Germanic and French roots. Roger comes from the Germanic Hrodgar, built from hrod, "fame", and gar, "spear", so it means "famous spear".
Is Roger a popular name?
Yes. Roger ranked #834 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Roger a boy or girl name?
Roger is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Roger?
Roger is usually pronounced RAH-jur. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings