The first name Rodney
A boy’s name meaning “hroda's island”, “fame”, “island”.
Pronounced /ˈɹɑdni/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Rodney means “hroda's island”, “fame”, “island”.
From Old English placename Hrōdanīeġ, Hrōdanīġ (literally “Hroda's island”), from Proto-Germanic *hrōþiz (“fame”) and *awjō (“island”).
More names that mean famous.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 10 boys were named Rodney, making it the 2,269th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2007, with 16 births (#1,361).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rodney with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rodney at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 197 boys born in the United States were named Rodney, the 1,093rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1965, when 11,086 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Rodney
- Rodders
Famous people named Rodney
69 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rodney Robert PorterEnglish biochemist and Nobel laureate (1917–1985)
- Rodney KingAfrican American police brutality victim (1965–2012)
- Rodney MullenAmerican professional skateboarder, born 1966
- Rodney WallaceCosta Rican footballer, born 1988
- Rodney AlcalaAmerican serial killer (1943–2021)
- Rodney StuckeyAmerican basketball player (born 1986)
- Richard Rodney BennettBritish composer and pianist (1936-2012)
- Rodney JerkinsAmerican record producer and rapper, born 1977
- Rodney BrooksAustralian roboticist, born 1954
- Rodney HoodAmerican basketball player (born 1992)
- Rodney CrowellAmerican musician, born 1950
- Rodney StarkAmerican sociologist of religion (1934–2022)
Questions
- What does the name Rodney mean?
- Rodney means “hroda's island”, “fame”, “island”.
- How popular is the name Rodney?
- In 2025, 10 boys born in England and Wales were named Rodney, ranking 2,269th. Its peak was 2007, with 16 births.
- What are nicknames for Rodney?
- Common nicknames for Rodney include Rodders.
- Is Rodney a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 248,325 US babies named Rodney since 1880 were boys.
- When was Rodney most popular?
- 1965 in the United States, when 11,086 babies were named Rodney, its highest rank at 33rd.
- How do you pronounce Rodney?
- Rodney is /ˈɹɑdni/, 2 syllables.
- Is Rodney also a surname?
- Yes. Rodney is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.