Boy nameCurrently #90 in the USFalling
Robert
ROB-ert//ˈrɒbərt//
2 syllablesPeak year: 19476 lettersStarts with R
Meaning & origin
Bright fame
Robert comes from the Germanic elements 'hrod' (fame) and 'berht' (bright), meaning 'bright fame'. One of the most enduring names in English history, carried by kings and presidents alike, it remains a dependable, dignified classic.
Robert's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Robert |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 2,427 |
| 1881 | 2,149 |
| 1882 | 2,512 |
| 1883 | 2,345 |
| 1884 | 2,475 |
| 1885 | 2,333 |
| 1886 | 2,459 |
| 1887 | 2,133 |
| 1888 | 2,833 |
| 1889 | 2,527 |
| 1890 | 2,553 |
| 1891 | 2,249 |
| 1892 | 2,727 |
| 1893 | 2,580 |
| 1894 | 2,518 |
| 1895 | 2,655 |
| 1896 | 2,747 |
| 1897 | 2,719 |
| 1898 | 2,944 |
| 1899 | 2,627 |
| 1900 | 3,845 |
| 1901 | 2,559 |
| 1902 | 3,201 |
| 1903 | 3,057 |
| 1904 | 3,427 |
| 1905 | 3,431 |
| 1906 | 3,651 |
| 1907 | 4,042 |
| 1908 | 4,245 |
| 1909 | 4,588 |
| 1910 | 5,638 |
| 1911 | 6,565 |
| 1912 | 12,900 |
| 1913 | 15,756 |
| 1914 | 21,268 |
| 1915 | 28,853 |
| 1916 | 31,863 |
| 1917 | 35,388 |
| 1918 | 40,797 |
| 1919 | 41,209 |
| 1920 | 48,884 |
| 1921 | 53,023 |
| 1922 | 54,033 |
| 1923 | 56,363 |
| 1924 | 61,098 |
| 1925 | 61,246 |
| 1926 | 61,499 |
| 1927 | 62,085 |
| 1928 | 61,135 |
| 1929 | 60,249 |
| 1930 | 62,578 |
| 1931 | 60,863 |
| 1932 | 59,594 |
| 1933 | 54,492 |
| 1934 | 56,109 |
| 1935 | 56,756 |
| 1936 | 58,722 |
| 1937 | 62,065 |
| 1938 | 62,489 |
| 1939 | 59,867 |
| 1940 | 61,400 |
| 1941 | 64,443 |
| 1942 | 72,049 |
| 1943 | 75,140 |
| 1944 | 71,049 |
| 1945 | 70,143 |
| 1946 | 84,352 |
| 1947 | 91,891 |
| 1948 | 85,684 |
| 1949 | 84,078 |
| 1950 | 83,754 |
| 1951 | 86,565 |
| 1952 | 86,781 |
| 1953 | 86,473 |
| 1954 | 86,525 |
| 1955 | 83,987 |
| 1956 | 84,126 |
| 1957 | 82,031 |
| 1958 | 77,571 |
| 1959 | 74,778 |
| 1960 | 72,613 |
| 1961 | 73,252 |
| 1962 | 70,430 |
| 1963 | 70,252 |
| 1964 | 70,262 |
| 1965 | 63,367 |
| 1966 | 59,560 |
| 1967 | 56,625 |
| 1968 | 58,451 |
| 1969 | 58,638 |
| 1970 | 57,506 |
| 1971 | 50,933 |
| 1972 | 43,303 |
| 1973 | 38,947 |
| 1974 | 37,250 |
| 1975 | 35,553 |
| 1976 | 34,027 |
| 1977 | 34,455 |
| 1978 | 33,633 |
| 1979 | 34,270 |
| 1980 | 34,523 |
| 1981 | 34,625 |
| 1982 | 34,647 |
| 1983 | 32,999 |
| 1984 | 32,002 |
| 1985 | 32,333 |
| 1986 | 31,592 |
| 1987 | 30,459 |
| 1988 | 30,499 |
| 1989 | 30,199 |
| 1990 | 28,994 |
| 1991 | 26,913 |
| 1992 | 24,155 |
| 1993 | 22,517 |
| 1994 | 20,611 |
| 1995 | 18,630 |
| 1996 | 17,713 |
| 1997 | 16,339 |
| 1998 | 15,555 |
| 1999 | 14,564 |
| 2000 | 13,762 |
| 2001 | 12,686 |
| 2002 | 12,045 |
| 2003 | 11,415 |
| 2004 | 10,716 |
| 2005 | 10,183 |
| 2006 | 9,922 |
| 2007 | 9,397 |
| 2008 | 8,847 |
| 2009 | 7,849 |
| 2010 | 7,576 |
| 2011 | 6,993 |
| 2012 | 6,970 |
| 2013 | 6,729 |
| 2014 | 6,668 |
| 2015 | 6,140 |
| 2016 | 6,005 |
| 2017 | 5,566 |
| 2018 | 5,191 |
| 2019 | 4,857 |
| 2020 | 4,401 |
| 2021 | 4,430 |
| 2022 | 4,084 |
| 2023 | 3,829 |
| 2024 | 3,785 |
Robert through the decades
- Robert peaked in 1947, when 91,891 babies were named Robert in the US.
- The 1950s were Robert's strongest decade, averaging 83,259 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Robert has fallen 40% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Robert currently ranks #90 in the US and is cooling off.
Nicknames
BobRobBobby
Variants & spellings
RobertoRupert
Famous people named Robert
- Robert Frost — poet