boy's name
Rodrigo
rod-REE-goh (English)
- Origin Germanic, Spanish
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 30,102
the United States
#491
2025 births
Rodrigo is a Spanish and Portuguese boy's name meaning "famous ruler." It comes from the Germanic Roderick, from hrod, "fame," and ric, "power," and it's the name of the medieval Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid.
- Rodrigo is a name of Germanic, Spanish origin.
- Peaked in 2007, when 1,177 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,400 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1918.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Rodrigo Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1910s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 6 |
| 1920s | 177 |
| 1930s | 173 |
| 1940s | 210 |
| 1950s | 379 |
| 1960s | 592 |
| 1970s | 1,462 |
| 1980s | 2,093 |
| 1990s | 5,045 |
| 2000s | 8,032 |
| 2010s | 6,191 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,399 |
What Rodrigo Means
Rodrigo means famous ruler or glorious leader. Its strong sound and its medieval history have made it a lasting classic throughout the Spanish-speaking world today.
Where Rodrigo Comes From
Germanic Hrodric, Gothic Hroþareiks, reached Iberia with the Visigoths, and Latin forms such as Rodericus followed. Roderic was the last Visigothic king of Spain, who died in the Muslim conquest of 711. Spanish and Portuguese shaped it as Rodrigo, and El Cid made it a national name in the eleventh century, with his deeds later retold in the Cantar de mio Cid. Roderick is the English form. Colonial Spain and Portugal carried the name to Latin America, where it's still a familiar choice.
Rodrigo in Use
Modern bearers include composer Joaquín Rodrigo, by surname, and actor Rodrigo Santoro. Singer Olivia Rodrigo has made the surname globally familiar.
How Popular Is Rodrigo?
In 2025, Rodrigo was given to 614 babies in the United States, ranking #491 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Rodrigo Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Rodrigo
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Rodrigo Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Rodrigo over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Rodrigo
- English rod-REE-goh
Rodrigo in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Rodrigo
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Rodrigo — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Rodrigo
What does the name Rodrigo mean?
Famous ruler, from Germanic hrod and ric.
Who was the famous Rodrigo in Spanish history?
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid.
Is Rodrigo a Spanish name?
Yes, and it's also Portuguese.
How popular is the name Rodrigo?
In 2025, Rodrigo was given to 614 babies in the United States, ranking #491 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Rodrigo a girl's or a boy's name?
Rodrigo is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Rodrigo?
Rodrigo has 3 syllables.
When was Rodrigo most popular?
Rodrigo peaked in 2007, when 1,177 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Rodrigo a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Rodrigo currently ranks #491 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.