A 1950s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Roch since 1927
Babies named Roch per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 124 |
| 1960s | 87 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 14 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Meaning & origin
Roch is a name with deep historical roots, particularly in French Catholicism through Saint Roch. Its peak year in the United States was 1957, when it saw modest usage. Since 2022, the name has been on a slight rise, though it remains extremely rare: in the latest year (2025), it did not reach the threshold for a one-in-N calculation, meaning fewer than 1 in 100,000 newborns received the name. The name has never been associated with any top states, indicating its usage is scattered. Its trajectory suggests a slow revival, likely appealing to parents seeking a traditional French name with saintly associations.
Roch is a name of debated derivation, possibly from the Germanic element 'roch' meaning 'rest' or from the Old High German 'hruod' meaning 'fame'. The name is most famously associated with Saint Roch, a 14th century French pilgrim and healer. It gained popularity in France and among French-speaking communities, often used as a given name and occasionally as a surname. Its usage in English-speaking countries has been limited but persists, sometimes as a variant of the Irish name Rónán or the English name Rock.
“Roch” around the world
Where Roch lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rocky
Sibling names for Roch
Names that share Roch's style, for a brother or sister.
