UK boy's name
Roch
Form of Germanic name derived from a term meaning "rest" or "repose".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roch is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Roch popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 4 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2008 to 2015. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Roch. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roch ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 4 boys were registered as Roch.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roch as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
4 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Roch mean?
The name Roch has its origins in the Late Latin and Old French language and can be traced back to the 4th century AD. It is derived from the Germanic name Hroch, which means "famous" or "renowned". The name was popularized in France during the Middle Ages and was initially used as a surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roch is in reference to Saint Roch, a Catholic saint who lived in the 14th century. He was born in Montpellier, France, in 1295 and is known for his work in caring for victims of the Black Death plague. His feast day is celebrated on August 16th in the Catholic Church.
Another notable figure bearing the name Roch was Roch Carrier, a Canadian author, and playwright born in 1937. He is best known for his novel "La Guerre, Yes Sir!" and his contributions to Canadian literature.
In the field of music, Roch Voisine is a renowned Canadian singer and songwriter born in 1963. He has released several successful albums and has won numerous awards, including several Félix Awards and a Juno Award.
Roch Thériault was a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec from 1976 to 1984. He played a significant role in Quebec's political landscape during a time of constitutional debates and the sovereignty movement.
Roch Kubatko is a contemporary American mathematician and computer scientist known for his contributions to the field of computational biology. He has developed algorithms and software tools for phylogenetic analysis, which are widely used in evolutionary studies.
While the name Roch was more commonly used in the past, particularly in French-speaking regions, it has remained a recognizable name throughout history, often associated with notable figures in various fields, including religion, literature, music, politics, and academia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Roch over time
The chart below shows babies named Roch registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Roch, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roch by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roch was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4321 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3687 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Roch
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Roch: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roch in the UK right now?
In 2015, Roch was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Roch most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 4 babies registered as Roch in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roch?
Form of Germanic name derived from a term meaning "rest" or "repose".
How many people are called Roch in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Roch across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.