Rhoda
Rhoda was the 3338th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 161st; the most babies were born in 1926 (547). Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Rhoda in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning "rose" or "woman of Rhodes" · Greek
Say it ROH-duh /ˈroʊdə/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,338 girls, up 44 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 47girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1926547 babies
- Total since 1880
- 26,069babies recorded
What does the name Rhoda mean?
Rhoda comes from Greek, either Rhodē, "woman from Rhodes", or rhodon, "rose". In the New Testament Rhoda is the servant girl who answers the door to Peter after his escape from prison (Acts 12:13). It was common in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wikipedia notes it was also used in the Scottish Highlands as a feminine of Roderick.
ῥόδον (Ancient Greek, “rose”)Ῥόδη (Ancient Greek, “woman from Rhodes”)
How sure is this? Probable. Both "rose" and "woman of Rhodes" are offered; the two are related.
Related names: Rhode, Rose, Rosa.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Rhoda', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- New Testament, Acts 12:13 (NRSV Updated Edition), Bible Gateway
- Wikipedia, 'Rhoda (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Rhoda popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 12 since 1897.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,338 | 47 |
| 2020 | #3,382 | 46 |
| 2010 | #3,296 | 50 |
| 2000 | #3,324 | 41 |
| 1990 | #2,510 | 48 |
| 1980 | #1,567 | 75 |
| 1970 | #1,058 | 116 |
| 1960 | #676 | 227 |
| 1950 | #485 | 278 |
| 1940 | #371 | 315 |
| 1930 | #297 | 497 |
| 1920 | #318 | 421 |
| 1910 | #296 | 170 |
| 1900 | #266 | 151 |
| 1890 | #202 | 138 |
| 1880 | #176 | 73 |
How popular is Rhoda, counting every spelling?
Rhoda is the most common spelling of a name family that had 52 girls in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 52 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhoda | 47 | #3,338 | 262 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Rhoda?
47 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Rhoda (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Rhoda born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 179 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Rhoda.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Rhoda?
About 9,400 people born in the US named Rhoda are alive today, with a median age of 66; half are between 50 and 77. That makes Rhoda a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Rhoda by state
How common Rhoda was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Pennsylvania (7.5×), Ohio (5.3×). In 48 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Rhoda: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Rhoda, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Rhoda · Sibling names for Rhoda
Questions about the name Rhoda
What does Rhoda mean?
Rhoda means “"rose" or "woman of Rhodes"” (Greek origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Rhoda?
Rhoda was the 3338th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 47 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 161st; the most babies were born in 1926 (547). Over the last ten years it has moved up 43 places. More babies were named Rhoda in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Rhoda a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Rhoda in the US.
Where is Rhoda most popular?
In 2021–2025, Rhoda was most common in Pennsylvania (0.24 per 1,000 girls), followed by Ohio and Indiana.