Is Roger a boy's or girl's name?

Roger is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 1,688 recorded births.

When was Roger most popular?

Roger reached its peak popularity in 1953 with 13,171 births that year. It is currently ranked #750 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Roger?

Roger is currently ranked #750 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 441,840 babies since 1880.

Roger

A familiar Germanic name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsGermanicDeclining Also a pet name

#750▲ 10in 2024

Meaning & Origin

radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter R.

Roger is a boy's and girl's baby name of Germanic origin, from the Old High German Hrodger, meaning "famous spear" — combining hrod (fame, glory) and ger (spear). It was brought to England by the Normans and was extremely common in the Middle Ages.

Roger dominated U.S. naming charts through the 1940s and 1950s. In aviation, "Roger" became the radio communication word for "message received," giving the name a cool, confident technical edge. Tennis legend Roger Federer — widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time — has given the name fresh contemporary prestige.

Compare Roger with another name

Popularity Over Time

Roger was #413 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #750, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Roger
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,788	#726	▼
2010s	4,473	#593	▼
2000s	6,360	#423	▼
1990s	10,655	#277	▼
1980s	18,002	#156	▼
1970s	29,718	#95	▼
1960s	71,441	#51	▼
1950s	110,156	#37	▲
1940s	107,597	#24	▲
1930s	49,612	#41	▲
1920s	21,753	#88	▲
1910s	8,408	#132	▲
1900s	928	#200	▲
1890s	607	#222	▲
1880s	342	#298	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Roger
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	340	#750	-3 (-0.9%)
2023	343	#760	+1 (0.3%)
2022	342	#749	-46 (-11.9%)
2021	388	#685	+13 (3.5%)
2020	375	#685	+13 (3.6%)
2019	362	#694	-51 (-12.3%)
2018	413	#637	-4 (-1.0%)
2017	417	#627	+8 (2.0%)
2016	409	#645	-70 (-14.6%)
2015	479	#581	+2 (0.4%)
2014	477	#583	+1 (0.2%)
2013	476	#556	+17 (3.7%)
2012	459	#564	-18 (-3.8%)
2011	477	#535	-27 (-5.4%)
2010	504	#510	-46 (-8.4%)
2009	550	#497	-48 (-8.0%)
2008	598	#462	+16 (2.7%)
2007	582	#468	-12 (-2.0%)
2006	594	#456	-50 (-7.8%)
2005	644	#417	+14 (2.2%)

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

Roger as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Roger has also been given to 1,688 girls in the U.S. since 1912.

Unranked

Current rank

1,688

Total births

1943

Peak year

Compare Roger as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Roger be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Roger is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #750. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Roger has two lives

Roger, the baby name

#750boys

441,840 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology