Rook
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Rook
Rook is a choose-your-own-adventure type of name. It has so many meanings and associations, that you have the freedom of choice to decide what resonates with you.
In chess, the rook is the game piece that looks like a castle. That variation was derived from the Persian word rukh, meaning "chariot." Rook is also a bird name, that of a raven species found in Europe and Asia.
Rook may also be associated with the word "rookie," designating an amateur or newbie at something. Rookie was derived from the variation of rook that means "a cheat." In Dutch, the word "rook" means "smoke."
No matter which meaning you ascribe to Rook, it's a modern, fierce, and powerful choice for a son.
Rook is also given to girls, where it ranks #9977 in the US.
Pronounced ROOK.
As of October 2026, Rook ranked #1972 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #756.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,922 | 40 | 20.8 |
| 2015 | #3,075 | 38 | 19.8 |
| 2016 | #3,664 | 30 | 15.8 |
| 2017 | #3,572 | 31 | 16.7 |
| 2018 | #3,682 | 30 | 16.5 |
| 2019 | #2,684 | 48 | 26.8 |
| 2020 | #3,190 | 36 | 20.9 |
| 2021 | #2,809 | 45 | 25.7 |
| 2022 | #2,582 | 53 | 30.4 |
| 2023 | #2,091 | 71 | 41.5 |
| 2024 | #2,384 | 59 | 34.2 |
| 2025 | #1,972 | 78 | 45.7 |
World rankings
Rook for boys
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