Roderick

Updated: October 14, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Roderick is a manly name full of power and strength. Though it sounds urban and modern, the baby name dates back to at least the eighth century. Despite that ancient origin, it was still a top 1,000 name in America up until 2012.

Meaning and Origin of the name Roderick:

Roderick is a boy's name that is of German origin and means “famous ruler” or “glory.”

Roderick comes from the Proto-Germanic words *hrōþiz (meaning “fame” or “glory”) and *ríks (meaning “king” or ruler”). The name dates back to before the eighth century in Germany, used by the Visigoth people. The name spread to Norse and Scandinavian cultures, eventually becoming popular among the Normans. It was the Normans who brought it to England through the Norman Invasion, popularizing the name through the Middle Ages.

Symbolism of the name Roderick:

The name Roderick comes from the words *hrōþiz and *ríks in the Old Germanic language. There are several Old High German forms of Roderick, such as Hrodric, Hroderich, Roderich, and Ruodrich. These names translate to “famous ruler” or “glory.” The name Roderick suggests someone who is strong, well-known, and a great leader.

Nicknames for the name Roderick:

Roderick is one of those names that has a variety of nicknames. Below is a list of nicknames for Roderick to help you find the right nickname for your baby boy. You can also use this list to give you inspiration in creating your own nickname. You can easily shorten Roderick from the beginning, middle, or end to create the perfect nickname.

Rod
Roddie
Roddy
Rick
Ricky
Ricki
Rickie
Rory
Derek

Style of the name Roderick:

Traditional

Gender of the name Roderick:

Roderick is a powerful name for baby boys.

Pronunciation of the name Roderick:

RAHD-rik or RAHD-uh-rik

Number of syllables in the name Roderick:

Two or three depending on pronunciation

Emotion evoked from the name Roderick:

Roderick is powerful, strong, and noble. It has almost a modern feel to it though in comparison to Robert, a similar baby name.

Alternative spellings for the name Roderick:

Roderic
Roderik
Roderyck
Roderyk

Popularity of the name Roderick:

The last year that Roderick was a top 1,000. name in America was 2012 at rank 981. The baby name was most popular as a top 300 name in the mid-twentieth century. 1967 was Roderick's best year at rank 221.