Rhoda is a unique and uncommon given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "rodh," which means "to migrate" or "to wander." The name Rhoda was borne by an early Christian figure who played a significant role in the Book of Acts in the New Testament.
In the biblical narrative, Rhoda was a servant in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. She recognized Peter's voice outside the door when he knocked while seeking refuge after his miraculous escape from prison. Despite her recognition, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the door immediately and ran back inside to announce Peter's arrival instead.
The name Rhoda is believed to have been popularized by early Christian communities as a result of this biblical story. However, it has never been widely used and remains relatively uncommon today. It is often associated with historical figures in religious contexts but is not typically connected with any specific cultural traditions or celebrations outside of these religious frameworks.
As for its meaning, Rhoda signifies movement, change, or transition, reflecting its Hebrew root word. While it does not have any direct associations with specific personality traits or characteristics, some people may associate the name with qualities such as enthusiasm, joy, and faith, given its biblical context. Ultimately, the interpretation of the name Rhoda's meaning can vary depending on individual perspectives and cultural backgrounds.
Rhoda is a name that has been given to babies born in the United States for over a century. Here are some interesting statistics about the usage of this name:
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Rhoda was quite popular. The number of births with this name varied from year to year, but it consistently stayed above 70 throughout most of these decades. For instance, in 1888, there were 130 births, which peaked at 463 in 1922.
However, the popularity of Rhoda began to decline after the 1920s. By the 1950s, the number of births with this name had fallen to around 250 per year. This downward trend continued into the 1970s and 80s, with fewer than 100 babies named Rhoda being born each year.
In recent decades, however, there has been a slight resurgence in the usage of this name. Since the 1990s, around 30-50 babies have been named Rhoda annually in the United States.
Overall, from 1880 to 2022, approximately 25,944 babies born in the US were named Rhoda. This demonstrates that while Rhoda may not be as popular as it once was, it remains a name with historical significance and continues to be used today.