Rook

♀ Girl

Pronounced RUUK /ˈrʊk/High

Meaning: A word name from English rook, a sociable black bird of the crow family (Old English hroc), and separately the castle piece in chess (from Persian rukh). It leans to boys and to surname-style use, which we flag.Low

In 30 seconds: A sharp word name: a rook is a crow-family bird — and the chess castle (said 'RUUK'). It leans to boys, which we note.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningA word name from English rook, a sociable black bird of the crow family (Old English hroc), and separately the castle piece in chess (from Persian rukh). It leans to boys and to surname-style use, which we flag.

U.S. rank (2024)#13151 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 25

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rook is a word name from Old English hroc, the sociable black bird of the crow family; the chess piece is a separate word, from Persian rukh, 'chariot'. As a given name it is very new and leans to boys, which we note (said 'RUUK').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, sharp, and cross-sex.

Did you know? The chess rook has nothing to do with the bird: it comes from Persian rukh, a chariot — two unrelated words that collided in English.

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Rook — Old English hroc (bird); chess rook from Persian rukh; boy-leaning

Variations

RookeRookieRowan

Nicknames

RooRookieRo

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rook…

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Crow— a like corvid word name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rook mean?

Rook is a word name for a black bird of the crow family; it also names the chess castle, from a separate Persian root.

How do you pronounce Rook?

It's said RUUK /ˈrʊk/ — one syllable, rhyming with 'book'.

Is Rook a boy or girl name?

Rook leans to boys and to surname-style use; girls' use is newer and rare, which we note.

How popular is Rook?

Rook is a very rare given name for girls in the U.S.