Declining since 1987, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Rob since 1884
Babies named Rob per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 94 |
| 1920s | 165 |
| 1930s | 135 |
| 1940s | 269 |
| 1950s | 1,550 |
| 1960s | 4,159 |
| 1970s | 1,441 |
| 1980s | 444 |
| 1990s | 246 |
| 2000s | 118 |
| 2010s | 85 |
| 2020s | 46 |
Meaning & origin
Rob, a familiar short form of Robert, has been in use as an independent given name in the United States since at least 1884, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its peak popularity came in 1964, but since 1987 its frequency has been declining. In the most recent year tracked (2025), Rob ranked 9,714 nationally, with roughly 1 in 244,011 newborn boys receiving the name. Despite its decades-long slide, Rob remains a recognizable and straightforward choice, favored in earlier decades like the 1960s but seldom found today among the top state-specific names.
Rob is a short form of Robert, which comes from the Old Germanic name Hrodebert, combining hrod 'fame' and beraht 'bright'. It has been used independently as a given name since the Middle Ages in England.
Where Rob is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Robbie, Bobby
Sibling names for Rob
Names that share Rob's style, for a brother or sister.
