Robert Name Meaning

Robert is a throwback pick to stand apart from the sea of Liams and Noahs, a long-time ruler of the charts that has cooled enough to become a fresh find again. He has a fantastic meaning of “bright fame” and a rich history of use to dive into.

A mature pick with tons of nicknames to dress it down, Robert doesn’t have to worry about feeling too youthful or too serious. Nicknames like Bobby and Robbie keep him light, while simple picks like Bob, Rob, and Bert age well. He easily fits in the adult world, avoiding the timestamp seen in trendy picks.

Robert is stoic and wise beyond his years, always studying the world around him for hidden meanings and lessons. He craves nothing more than a good book to dive into and surrounds himself with learning and wonder. Whether he’s exploring the night sky with a telescope or picking up new words in the dictionary, Robert is never one to turn down an opportunity to expand his horizons.

A classic moniker, Robert has been the name of kings from Scotland, France, and Naples as well as the name of dukes from Normandy, Albany, and more. Outside of royalty, he’s also appeared as several popes and political figures, cementing his role as a prolific name in the history books.

Infographic of Robert name meaning, which is Derived from the name Hrodebert, Robert is a German name meaning bright fame.
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Robert Name Popularity

How popular is the name Robert? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 4 5,609 1.5931%
1911 5 6,519 1.7506%
1912 4 12,833 2.5447%
1913 4 15,680 2.7656%
1914 4 21,188 3.0403%
1915 4 28,738 3.1631%
1916 4 31,741 3.2859%
1917 4 35,220 3.5205%
1918 4 40,620 3.7848%
1919 4 41,027 3.9181%
1920 3 48,678 4.378%
1921 2 52,781 4.6094%
1922 2 53,797 4.8288%
1923 2 56,120 5.0105%
1924 1 60,798 5.2355%
1925 1 60,896 5.3877%
1926 1 61,131 5.558%
1927 1 61,669 5.5712%
1928 1 60,696 5.6727%
1929 1 59,796 5.7729%
1930 1 62,147 5.9495%
1931 1 60,513 6.1311%
1932 1 59,262 5.9984%
1933 1 54,212 5.8189%
1934 1 55,828 5.7751%
1935 1 56,524 5.8165%
1936 1 58,491 6.072%
1937 1 61,829 6.2746%
1938 1 62,265 6.0822%
1939 1 59,645 5.8636%
1940 2 61,195 5.7574%
1941 2 64,233 5.7071%
1942 2 71,835 5.6887%
1943 2 74,862 5.7344%
1944 2 70,848 5.7165%
1945 2 69,933 5.7342%
1946 2 84,134 5.7018%
1947 2 91,642 5.49%
1948 2 85,467 5.3538%
1949 2 83,869 5.2137%
1950 2 83,565 5.19%
1951 2 86,361 5.0936%
1952 2 86,622 4.9624%
1953 1 86,195 4.8703%
1954 2 86,288 4.7203%
1955 4 83,719 4.5515%
1956 3 83,898 4.4421%
1957 4 81,706 4.2461%
1958 4 77,286 4.0893%
1959 5 74,494 3.9208%
1960 5 72,369 3.8195%
1961 5 72,900 3.8614%
1962 5 70,203 3.8239%
1963 5 70,016 3.9005%
1964 5 69,999 3.9767%
1965 5 63,134 3.8607%
1966 5 59,333 3.8002%
1967 5 56,380 3.7152%
1968 5 58,211 3.8767%
1969 5 58,327 3.786%
1970 5 57,201 3.5944%
1971 5 50,655 3.371%
1972 6 43,035 3.1597%
1973 7 38,701 2.9852%
1974 7 37,038 2.8497%
1975 6 35,335 2.7498%
1976 7 33,809 2.6232%
1977 7 34,220 2.5387%
1978 8 33,390 2.4835%
1979 8 34,023 2.4129%
1980 9 34,281 2.3446%
1981 9 34,402 2.3403%
1982 9 34,421 2.3034%
1983 10 32,745 2.219%
1984 9 31,772 2.1358%
1985 8 32,088 2.1141%
1986 9 31,341 2.0763%
1987 10 30,228 1.9808%
1988 10 30,313 1.9452%
1989 10 30,064 1.8631%
1990 13 28,871 1.7419%
1991 13 26,828 1.6459%
1992 17 24,088 1.5091%
1993 17 22,443 1.4395%
1994 21 20,555 1.3394%
1995 22 18,583 1.233%
1996 23 17,674 1.1804%
1997 23 16,304 1.1024%
1998 23 15,524 1.0372%
1999 26 14,539 0.9708%
2000 29 13,737 0.8992%
2001 30 12,663 0.8404%
2002 34 12,024 0.8024%
2003 35 11,393 0.7489%
2004 36 10,675 0.7004%
2005 37 10,159 0.6644%
2006 47 9,899 0.6322%
2007 47 9,376 0.5943%
2008 49 8,827 0.5711%
2009 55 7,826 0.5236%
2010 54 7,554 0.5242%
2011 62 6,968 0.4891%
2012 60 6,942 0.4872%
2013 62 6,708 0.4711%
2014 60 6,633 0.4553%
2015 63 6,111 0.42%
2016 62 5,977 0.4145%
2017 65 5,507 0.3946%
2018 71 5,140 0.3741%
2019 76 4,803 0.3548%
2020 79 4,282 0.3364%
2021 79 4,402 0.3601%
2022 81 4,051 0.3071%

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Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Robert

If you like Robert, you’ll love these other names like Robert.


What names are diminutives of Robert?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Robert sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Robert, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Bert

Illustrious

English

Bertie

Noble, bright, famous; illustrious; bright settlement; bright, famous raven; day-bright; bright promise; illustrious warrior; northern brightness; bright fame

German

Bo

To live

Scandinavian

Bob

A diminutive form of Robert.

English

Bobbie

Bright fame

German

Bobby

Bright fame

German

Nob

A diminutive form of Robert.

Rab

Bright fame

German

Rabbie

Bright fame

German

Rip

To tear, to rip away

American

Rob

A diminutive form of Robert.

Robb

Bright fame

German

Robbie

Bright fame

German

Robby

Bright fame

German

Robi

Bright fame

German

Rod

A diminutive form of Robert and Roderick.

Roddie

Famous power

German


What names are variants of Robert?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Robert.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Probert

Son of Robert

English

Riobard

Bright fame

German

Roban

Bright fame

German

Robben

Bright fame

German

Robbin

Bright fame

German

Robbins

Bright fame

German

Robbinson

Bright fame; son of Robert

German

Robers

Bright fame

German

Roberto

Bright fame

Italian

Robertson

Bright fame

German

Robin

A variant form of Robert.

English

Robinson

Son of Robert

English

Robson

Bright fame; son of Robert

German

Robyn

Bright fame

German

Robynson

Bright fame; son of Robert

German

Rupert

A variant form of Robert.

German

Ruperto

Bright fame

German

Ruprecht

Bright fame

German


What names sound like Robert?

If you like how Robert sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Robert.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Adelbert

Noble, bright, famous

German

Albert

Noble, bright, famous

German

Cuthbert

Bright, brilliant, famous

English

Delbert

Day-bright

English

Dobbs

English

Egbert

Bright, famous sword

English

Gilbert

Bright promise

French

Herbert

Illustrious warrior

German

Hobbes

English

Hubert

Bright or shining intellect

German

Lambert

Land brilliant

Scandinavian

Norbert

Northern brightness

German

Obert

Wealthy, bright

German

Osbert

Bright god

English


What names are similar to Robert?

Find a name that’s like Robert, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Calvin

Hairless one

English

Francis

Frenchman; free man

Latin

Henry

Home ruler

English

James

Supplanter

English

John

God is gracious

Hebrew

Louis

Famous warrior

French

Samuel

Name of God

Hebrew

Thomas

Twin

Greek

Vincent

Conquer

Latin

William

A willing protector

German


Lists With Robert

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Robert.


Siblings of Robert

Mamas with kids named Robert also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Philip

Horse lover

Greek

Matthew

Gift of God

Hebrew

Stephen

Crown

English

Maria

Of the sea

Latin

Martin

Of Mars

Latin

Raymond

Protector

English

Emma

Whole or universal

German

Cathy

Pure

Greek

Coy

Son of Aodh

Irish

Henry

Home ruler

English

Noah

To rest

Hebrew

Aliya

Rising, ascending

Hebrew

Kylie

Boomerang

Aboriginal

Ryann

King

Irish

Ezra

Help

Hebrew

Isabella

Devoted to God

Italian

Brielle

God is my strength

French

Hallie

A variant spelling of Hally.

Scandinavian

Charlie

Free man

English

Josef

Jehovah increases

Hebrew

Taylor

Tailor; to cut

French

Reece

Enthusiasm

Welsh

Grace

Gracious one

English

Faith

Devotion

English

Elizabeth

God is my oath

Hebrew

William

A willing protector

German

Marie

A French form of Mary.

French

Joy

Happiness

Latin

Jordyn

To descend

Hebrew

Jubilee

Ram's horn

Hebrew

David

Beloved

Hebrew

Elena

Shining light

Greek

Leona

Lion

Latin

Tierra

Earth

Spanish

Daniel

God is My Judge

Hebrew

29 Comments

  1. We chose Robert as a junior. I love that we can come up with many different nick names – it’s very versatile yet classic.

  2. I named him Robert because it is my dad’s first name

  3. Both of my husband and I’s grandfathers on our mother’s side were named Robert. We knew if we ever had a boy it would be destined to be their namesake!

  4. My husband named him Robert Chandler after his to grandfathers and I loved the name

  5. We named our son after my father-in-law, Robert, and we choose Samuel as the middle name. From the Old Testament of the Bible, meaning “God has heard” or “Name of God.”

  6. Robert is named after my husband’s grandfather’s name.

  7. I called him Robert because it’s a family name on both sides, We call him Bobby, although I want him to grow up to be a Robert. We also call him Bertie sometimes, I’m planning to enrol him in kindergarten as Robert.

  8. My Name is Robert Michael G and my sons name is Robert Micheal G jr

  9. Named after husbands grandfather. Chosen by mom because of great Roberts in history. Convays images of strong, kind, and artistic men.

  10. I’ve always liked the name Robert, but it is also my favorite characters name (Robert Downey Jr AKA Iron Man ) and my spouces middle name is Robert so it gave it that personalized reason for us to name him Robert

  11. It’s my boyfriend’s late father’s name.

  12. Robert is name after my husband’s first name. And Robert is strong name.

  13. Husband chose babys name

  14. Named my son after my favorite actor who played my favorite Marvel character , Robert Downey Junior 😉

  15. We are planning on calling him Bo!

  16. Hes named after my step dad it fits him well

  17. Because I love this name so much ! My son’s full name is Robert Daniel Boromir (^o^)/

  18. We chose the first name of Robert in remembrance of my fianc?’s grandfather whom he was very close too, that had passed away.

  19. My husband name is Robert so he’s a junior. Actually he is a 4th because his Great grandfather and Grandfather are Robert as well. I just like tradition so that’s another reason his name is Robert

  20. My husband and father in law are both Robert, and my father is William. We passed down both names!

  21. We chose Robert because my husband’s grandfather who was like his dad died right before I became pregnant with him. We chose Thomas as the middle name after my grandfather that died a few months before my husband’s grandfather and Thomas was also my father’s middle name.
    We liked that it could be shortened.
    He was born at 36 weeks and 2 days. He was 6 lbs 11.9 oz and 20.5 inches.

  22. Our little Robert is the 6th Robert in my husbands family. I didn’t really like any of the nicknames for Robert so we decided on calling him RJ!

  23. I actually really did not care to name my baby Robert, but it is a family name (husband and father in laws name). To compromise we call him Bert! It’s a love it or hate it name but not a trendy name so I like it!

  24. It was a family name and we wanted to honour a great grandparent. We love that Robert has so many ways to shorten it – Bobby, bertie, Rob, Robbie, Bob, robbo that it will let him develop and grow into any personality he wants to be!

  25. Robert was named after his father and grandfather so the name is passed on through the family.

  26. We wanted to give our son a family name. So we chose the name of his grandfather as he was such a wonderful loving man we could only hope our son will grow up to be just like him.

  27. Robert is our sons middle name. Named after his grandfather

  28. It is my husband’s great uncle’s name.

  29. Robert is my dad’s name, but everyone in his generation goes by Bob. Robert is also a Saints name.
    Robert is easy to spell and pronounce.


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