Rob

An uncommon pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameRising fast Also a pet name
#12009 4369in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given name Robert.

Rob is a boy's baby name of Germanic origin, the classic short form of Robert — from the Old Germanic Hrodberht, meaning 'bright fame' (from hrōd, 'fame' + beraht, 'bright'). Rob is the unpretentious, grounded version of a name that has been carried by kings, saints, and the legendary Robin Hood — bright fame worn lightly.

Rob is Robert at its most relaxed — the bright fame of Germanic nobility compressed into one syllable, stripped of any ceremony, carried by someone who doesn't need to announce himself because everyone already knows who he is.

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Popularity Over Time

Rob was #5735 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #12009, but its charm endures.

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Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Rob
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s39
2010s85
2000s118
1990s246
1980s443
1970s1,441
1960s4,160
1950s1,550
1940s269
1930s135
1920s165
1910s94
1890s12
1880s11

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(115 years, 18842024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Rob
YearBirthsRank
20246#12009
202311#7640
20228#9653
20219#8691
20205#13645
20198#9570
20186#11853
201710#8011
20165#13784
201414#6241
20137#10498
20128#9523
201113#6511
201014#6304
200912#7146
200810#8171
200717#5390
200513#6147
200414#5735
200312#6177

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Rob has two lives

Rob, the baby name
#12009boys
8,768 babies
Currently viewing
Rob, the pet name
#7020pet name
9 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18842024) · Methodology