Roosvelt
A boy's name of Dutch origin with 288 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Roosvelt is a vintage name that peaked in the pre-war decades and has since faded from common use. For parents drawn to retro charm, that quiet history is part of the appeal.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Roosvelt is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Roosvelt is a boy's baby name of Dutch origin, a variant spelling of Roosevelt, from the Dutch Rosenvelt meaning 'rose field' — the ancestral Dutch surname of both Presidents Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Using Roosevelt (or Roosvelt) as a given name honors these towering American presidents.
Roosvelt carries the presidential gravitas of two of America's most consequential leaders — a name chosen to invoke their legacies of strength, reform, and national purpose.
EtymologyShow more
Though Roosvelt dates back to 1904 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Dutch classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 288 recorded births, Roosvelt has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Roosvelt has 37+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1904.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 25 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 44 | — |
| 1940s | 47 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 111 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 20 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 14 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 10 | — |
The Story of Roosvelt
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1933, Roosvelt is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Roosvelt are most likely born between 1923 and 1943.
How rare is Roosvelt?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Roosvelt is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1904, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1930s with 111 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Roosvelt by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(37 years, 1904–1975)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 5 | #6157 |
| 1974 | 5 | #5853 |
| 1971 | 7 | #4303 |
| 1964 | 6 | #3959 |
| 1963 | 7 | #3595 |
| 1961 | 5 | #4552 |
| 1960 | 7 | #3605 |
| 1957 | 6 | #3917 |
| 1956 | 7 | #3488 |
| 1954 | 8 | #3131 |
| 1953 | 6 | #3734 |
| 1951 | 7 | #3308 |
| 1950 | 10 | #2551 |
| 1949 | 6 | #3634 |
| 1947 | 5 | #4174 |
| 1945 | 5 | #3699 |
| 1943 | 8 | #2929 |
| 1942 | 7 | #3168 |
| 1941 | 7 | #3094 |
| 1940 | 9 | #2645 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roosvelt a boy's or girl's name?
When was Roosvelt most popular?
How popular is the name Roosvelt?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1904–1975