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Rodney

Boy name · 68 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Rodney: 68 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 12 births in 1974.

Of Norman French origin, Rodney is a habitational surname turned first name, derived from the Old English elements *hreod* meaning "reed" and *ēg* meaning "island" or "dry ground in a marsh," so the name essentially means "reed island." The most famous bearer is undoubtedly the comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield, whose signature line "I don't get no respect" became a cultural catchphrase. The name also belongs to Sir George Brydges Rodney, a celebrated 18th-century British naval officer who gave his name to several places, including Rodney Street in Liverpool and the Rodney district of New Zealand. A notable variant is the Spanish and Portuguese form Rodrigo, which shares the same Germanic root *Hrōþirīks* meaning "famous power."