Declining since 1985, #92 for boys today.
Popularity of Robert since 1880
Babies named Robert per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1947, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Robert's real moment was 1931.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 24,074 |
| 1890s | 26,147 |
| 1900s | 35,849 |
| 1910s | 239,185 |
| 1920s | 576,374 |
| 1930s | 590,810 |
| 1940s | 758,126 |
| 1950s | 830,395 |
| 1960s | 650,786 |
| 1970s | 397,225 |
| 1980s | 321,655 |
| 1990s | 205,459 |
| 2000s | 106,666 |
| 2010s | 62,654 |
| 2020s | 24,325 |
Meaning & origin
Nearly a century ago, Robert was the sound of American boyhood: it peaked in 1931, in the middle of a long stretch when it ranked at or near No. 1, and the Bobs and Bobbys of that era went on to fill mid-century offices, ballfields, and movie credits.
The long descent has been gentle. Falling since 1985, Robert still ranked No. 92 in 2025, when about one in every 453 boys received it, enough to keep the name familiar without feeling common. Its current geography is quirky, running strongest in Vermont, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia rather than in any single region.
With grandfather names like Theodore and Arthur back in fashion, Robert sits in an interesting position: the formal name still reads distinguished, Robin and Bertie offer offbeat routes in, and Bobby has begun to acquire the vintage charm that once belonged to Archie and Gus.
Robert is a Germanic compound of hrod 'fame' and beraht 'bright', 'bright fame.' The Normans carried it to England in 1066, where it displaced the native Old English cognate Hreodbeorht and quickly became one of the most common medieval male names, spawning the surnames Roberts, Robertson, and Robinson. It has royal weight on several fronts: Robert the Bruce, king of Scots and victor at Bannockburn, plus dukes of Normandy and kings of France. In the United States it was a fixture of the top ten for decades, ranking at or near No. 1 through the 1920s and 1930s and peaking in 1931, when Bob and Bobby were among the most familiar sounds on any playground.
Read more: Robert on Wikipedia
Where Robert 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.
“Robert” around the world
Where Robert lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
35
babies in 2024
Ireland
54
babies in 2025
New Zealand
21
babies in 2025
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rob, Bob, Bobby, Robbie, Bert
Famous people named Robert
- Robert the Bruce · king of Scots who won independence at Bannockburn
- Robert Frost · four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet
- Robert De Niro · two-time Academy Award-winning actor
Sibling names for Robert
Names that share Robert's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Margaret, Helen, Katherine, Eleanor, Jane, Ann, Anne, Barbara, Beverly, Carol, Christy, Dawn, Debbie, Debra, Diane, Dianna, Dianne, Jacquelyn, Janice, Joann, Joanne, Judith, Judy, Linda, Marian, Maryann, Patricia, Paula, Roberta, Ronda, Sandra, Susan, Toni, Annamae, Barbra, Bettye, Carlene, Carolann, Carole, Carolynn, Christene, Cinthia, Diann, Dona, Georganne, Janette, Jannette, Jenette, Johnette, Karolyn, Kathi, Kathie, Kathrine, Leisa, Lesli, Luann, Margarette, Mariann, Marjory, Marybelle, Marybeth, Maryellen, Maryjane, Nanci, Pamala, Patrica, Reba, Rosanne, Roseann, Roseanna, Roseanne, Rosemarie, Ruthann, Sherrill, Sondra, Suzan, Anglea, Bethann, Bettyann, Christeen, Dannette, Debrah, Delories, Gaynelle, Georgann, Georgiann, Jacalyn, Jacki, Janee, Janeth, Janett, Jeane, Joannie, Joeann, Julee, Karren, Kathey, Kathyrn, Leslye, Loriann, Margarett, Marijo, Marilou, Marjean, Maryalice, Maryan, Maryelizabeth, Marylin, Marylouise, Marylyn, Marylynn, Phyliss, Rosalynn, Rosann, Rozanne, Ruthanne, Suanne, Sueann, Susann, Suzann, Synthia, Tomie, Toniann, Alleen, Anjeanette, Annamay, Annelle, Babara, Barbaraann, Betti, Carolanne, Cathern, Cherylann, Cynitha, Cythia, Donnalee, Georgeanne, Graceann, Jacklin, Janielle, Janneth, Jannett, Jeanann, Jennett, Joane, Joellyn, Johnelle, Johnita, Joice, Jone, Joretta, Joyann, Karole, Katherene, Kathren, Kristee, Laurieann, Lindia, Lisaann, Louellen, Mariellen, Marybel, Maryjean, Marykay, Nancey, Nancye, Patrecia, Patrisha, Robena, Robertha, Rosilyn, Sallyann, Sammye, Sharone, Suann, Sueanne, Suzzanne, Tinamarie, Annamary, Annet, Barbar, Barbarann, Beverely, Carilyn, Carollee, Carollyn, Carolynne, Carrolyn, Cathe, Catheryne, Catrena, Cheril, Cherylynn, Cynithia, Debara, Debraann, Dejuana, Donne, Emmajane, Georgeann, Jacqualine, Janifer, Jannet, Jannetta, Jeanell, Joanette, Johnice, Jolane, Joletta, Jomarie, Judithann, Judyann, Junice, Karolynn, Kathlean, Kathye, Lauraann, Leslieann, Lynnmarie, Maragret, Margaretann, Margareth, Marieann, Marikay, Marilouise, Maryln, Marynell, Maryrose, Maryruth, Morene, Normajean, Patrici, Patriciaann, Richetta, Roann, Rozann, Ruthell, Saraann, Shearon, Sherrilynn, Stephenia, Susa, Susen, Cherrill, Loisann, Lucyann, Marialice, Thresea, Barbarajean, Barbee, Bettymae, Bevely, Beverlyann, Bobetta, Carloyn, Caroly, Cathyann, Christean, Cyntha, Cythnia, Debbrah, Deborahann, Donnajean, Dorann, Dorethia, Dorothyann, Dorri, Eleaner, Georgean, Gerrianne, Janann, Janeann, Jeananne, Jennet, Jerianne, Jerriann, Jillann, Joanmarie, Joeanne, Johnnette, Joyanne, Judianne, Judythe, Karenann, Kathee, Kathreen, Kathrene, Kathyann, Laurajean, Laurali, Laurey, Lizann, Lysbeth, Marigene, Marijean, Marisue, Marjarie, Marsheila, Marylynne, Mischell, Particia, Pattiann, Rether, Richardine, Ritamarie, Ruthmary, Sandar, Shaaron, Shelie, Sheritha, Suzzane, Terryann, Zoeann
Brothers: William, James, Richard, Thomas, Edward, Donald, Doug, Dwight, Jean, Joan, Johnie, Johnnie, Jon, Kenneth, Micheal, Peter, Phillip, Randall, Rick, Stuart, Timothy, Dian, Gean, Geoffrey, Jeffry, Jerold, Norbert, Stewart, Douglass, Jhon, Johney, Keneth, Kenith, Wm, Donnald, Donold, Jearld, Jeffrie, Johnn, Johnney, Kennieth, Purcell, Richrd, Rickard, Trebor, Watt, Anothony, Aurther, Dougles, Geffrey, Josph, Kenneith, Larwence, Mitcheal, Ralston, Ricahrd, Richad, Richar, Richerd, Ricke, Rishard, Stephenson, Telford, Willim, Janmichael, Jefferie, Jonh, Rachard, Rodert
Names like Robert
Names whose popularity has moved with Robert's over the last 50 years.
