Rocky
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Rocky
A popular choice back in the 50s and 70s, Rocky fell into decline after Sylvester Stallone's battered but not beaten boxer character became the overwhelming association many had with the name. Now, nearly five decades on from when the first Rocky movie was released, this tough yet playful name is back in style, ready to forge an identity of its own. Given to around 420 boys in the US in a recent year, it was one of the fastest rising names in the charts.
Rocky for boys#568 US
Rocky can be considered an English word name, referring to an environment with many rocks, or it can be viewed as a nickname-name, derived from Rocco, meaning "rest, repose" or "rook", or from Roderick, meaning "famous ruler". Alternatively, it has been used simply as a nickname for someone strong and rugged.
Boxer Rocky Marciano was a notable bearer who helped popularize the name back in the 50s, however, the more resurgence of Rocky is likely down to the actress Sarah Michelle Geller and actor Freddie Prinze Jr. choosing it for their son back in 2012. It subsequently reappeared in the US Top 1000 in 2013 and has been on the rise ever since.
Rocky for girls#3564 US
Short for Rocco or perhaps Rochelle, this bold nickname has a more peaceful meaning: "rest". But it doubles up as a word name with a wild and edgy sound – especially for girls.
Many will still think of Rocky Balboa but this name has modern cred. In 2010, Zendaya made her television debut playing Rocky Blue (short for Raquel) in the Disney show Shake it Up, giving this name a cool girl flair.
Today, people may also associate the name with the rapper A$AP Rocky, who now has a daughter with the singer and businesswoman Rihanna, who they named Rocki in 2025, a choice which may influence other parents to use one of the various spellings of the name for their
Rocky was chosen for nearly 40 girls in the US in a recent year, however, it was ten times more popular for boys.
Pronounced RAH-kee.
As of October 2026, Rocky ranked #568 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #240 in 1955, Nameberry popularity #460.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #989 | 211 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #927 | 231 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #955 | 217 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #960 | 217 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #910 | 237 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #842 | 267 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #862 | 263 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #870 | 266 | #4,932 | 27 |
| 2022 | #884 | 268 | #4,091 | 36 |
| 2023 | #888 | 262 | #4,536 | 31 |
| 2024 | #657 | 418 | #3,860 | 39 |
| 2025 | #568 | 520 | #3,564 | 43 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rocky.
Similar boy names
Similar girl names
Rocky on lists
Famous Rockys
- Rocky Marciano (born Rocco Francis Marchegiano)Boy
American boxer
- Thomas Rocco "Rocky" GrazianoBoy
American boxer
- Rocky ElsomBoy
Australian Rugby Union Player
- Rocky Mark LynchBoy
American guitarist of band R5
- Ross Carl "Rocky" AndersonBoy
American politician
- Roscoe "Rocky" CarrollBoy
American actor
- Rocky JohnsonBoy
ring name of Wayde Douglas Bowles, Canadian pro wrestler and father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
- Rocky James Prinze (b. 2012)Boy
son of actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.
- Rocky Joe BoatmanBoy
son of actor and poker player Ross Boatman
- RockyBoy
the stage name of Park Minhyuk; dancer, rapper and vocalist of South Korean boy band Astro
- Rocky BarnesBoy
model
- Rocky Valentine AdlonBoy
daughter of Pamela Adlon
- Raquel "Rocky" DakotaBoy
reality TV star
- Raquel "Rocky" SantiagoBoy
reality TV star
Rocky in pop culture
- Rocky BalboaBoy
main character in the "Rocky" films
- Rocket J. "Rocky" SquirrelBoy
main character in animated series "Rocky & Bullwinkle"
- Rocky RodentBoy
character in video game "Rocky Rodent"
- Rocky SullivanBoy
main character of the film "Angels with Dirty Faces"
- Rocky WrenchesBoy
character in the Super Mario Bros. video games
- Rocky and MugsyBoy
gangster characters in Looney Tunes cartoons
- "RockyBoy
" comic strip and its lead character
- Joseph "Rocky" RockfordBoy
character on TV's "The Rockford Files"
- Rocky the Breakdown CraneBoy
character on TV series "Thomas and Friends "
- Rocky the RoosterBoy
a main character in animated film "Chicken Run"
- RockyBoy
character on animated series "PAW Patrol"
- Rocky RobinsonBoy
character in the animated series "The Amazing World of Gumball"
- RockyBoy
a main character in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
- Rocky DeSantosBoy
red/blue ranger character in the Power Rangers series
- "Rocky HandsomeBoy
" 2016 Indian film and its main character
- Rocky RayburnBoy
baby character in Netflix's "Bloodline"
- Rocky GibraltarBoy
toy wrestler in the Toy Story series
- Raquel Oprah "Rocky" BlueBoy
female character on TV's "Shake It Up"
- Rocky RanginuiBoy
character in the film "BOY"
- Rocky Girl
Alien character in the book/movie Project Hail Mary
- Rocky Blue (short for Raquel)Girl
From the Disney Channel show 'Shake it Up'. Played by Zendaya
- Rocky BalboaGirl
character in the Rocky Balboa movie. Played by Sylvester Stallone.