Roger (/ˈrɒdʒər/, /ˈroʊdʒər/) is a masculine given name and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names Roger and Rogier. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements hrōd ("fame", "renown") and gār, gēr ("spear", "lance"). The name was introduced into England by the Normans. In Normandy, the Frankish name had been reinforced by the Old Norse cognate Hróðgeirr. The name introduced into England replaced the Old English cognate Hroðgar. Roger became a very common given name during the Middle Ages. A variant form of the given name Roger is Rodger. The surname Roger is sometimes an Anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Mac Ruaidhrí.
Roger is also a short version of the term "Jolly Roger", which refers to a black flag with white skull and crossbones, formerly used by sea pirates since as early as 1723.
From c. 1650 to c. 1870, Roger was slang for the word "penis", probably due to the origin of the name involving fame with a spear. Subsequently, "to roger" became a slang verb form meaning "to have sex with", "to penetrate".
In 19th century England, Roger was slang for the cloud of toxic green gas that swept through the chlorine bleach factories periodically.
The name "Hodge" is a corruption of Roger in England, where it was used as a colloquial term by townsfolk, implying a rustic.
In Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas writes "jolly, rodgered" suggesting both "Jolly Roger", the pirate flag, and the slang for "penis".
The following forenames are related to the English given name Roger:
Arabic: روجر , translit. RojərBelarusian: Роджэр , translit. RodžerCatalan: RogerSimplified Chinese: 罗杰; traditional Chinese: 羅傑; pinyin: Luó jié; Jyutping: Lo4 git6Croatian: Ruđer, RogerijeDutch: Rutger, RogierFaroese: RóarFilipino: RogelioFrench: RogerGalician: Roxerio, Roxer, RoxelioGerman: Rüdiger, Rutger, Ruetger, Rudgar, Ruotger, Routger, Rotger, RötgerGreek: Ρογήρος , translit. Rogéros, Rógi̱rosGujarati: રોજર , translit. RōjaraHebrew: רוג׳ר , translit. RojerHindi: रॉजर , translit. RŏjaraHungarian: Rezső, RogeriosIcelandic: Hróar, Hróðgeir, RagnarItalian: Ruggero, Roggero, Ruggeri, Ruggiero, RugieroJapanese: ロジャー, ロゲル , translit. Rojā, RogeruKannada: ರೋಜರ್ , translit. RōjarHangul: 로저; RR: LojeoKurdish: راجەر , translit. RacerLatin: RogeriusMacedonian: Роџер , translit. RodžerManx: RoreeMongolian: Рожер , translit. RojyerNepali: रोजर , translit. RōjaraNorwegian: Roar, RogerOccitan: Rogièr, RotgerPersian: راجر , translit. RājərPolish: Roger, GerekPortuguese: RogérioPunjabi: ਰੋਜ਼ਰ , translit. RōzaraRussian: Роджер , translit. Ródžer, RodzherSerbian: Руђер , translit. RuđerSlovene: RogerijSpanish: RogelioSwedish: Roar, Roger, RutgerTamil: ரோஜர் , translit. RōjarTelugu: రోజర్ , translit. RōjarThai: โรเจอร์ , translit. RochoeUkrainian: Роджер , translit. RodzherUrdu: راجر , translit. RājərWelsh: Rosser, RozierYiddish: ראַדזשער , translit. RadzherSee also All pages beginning with "Roger de", All pages beginning with "Roger of" and All pages beginning with "Roger van" for people with these names
Roger, Archbishop of Patras (in post 1337–1347)Roger (Archdeacon of Barnstaple) (in post from 1155)Roger (archbishop of Benevento) (died 1221)Roger (larderer) (died 1102), Bishop-elect of HerefordRoger (son of Dagobert) (fl. 1098–1108), Norman magnate who served the Byzantine empireRoger I of Sicily, Norman ruler of SicilyRoger I. de Sentes, 12th century French bishopRoger I Trencavel (died 1150), Viscount of CarcassoneRoger I de Fézensaguet (1190–1245), Viscount of FézensaguetRoger I of Carcassonne (died 1012), Count of CarcassoneRoger I of Tosny (died c. 1040), Norman noblemanRoger II of Sicily (1095–1154), Norman ruler of SicilyRoger II Trencavel (died 1194), Viscount of CarcassoneRoger III, Duke of Apulia (1118–1148), Duke of Apulia, SicilyRoger III of Sicily (1175–1193), briefly King of SicilyRoger IV, Count of Foix (died 1265)Roger IV, Duke of Apulia (1152-1161)Roger of Lauria, Italian admiralRoger of Worcester from 1163 to 1179Brother Roger (1915–2005), baptised Roger Louis Schutz-Marsauche, initiator of the Taizé CommunityRoger Adams, Nobel Prize chemistRoger Ailes, American television executive, Chairman and CEO of Fox NewsRoger Angell, baseball writer for The New YorkerRoger Avary, motion picture directorRoger Bacon, English philosopherRoger Ballen, PhotographerRoger Bannister, British athlete, first man to run the four-minute mileRoger "Syd" Barrett, founder of Pink FloydRoger Berrio, Colombian weightlifterRoger E. Billings (born 1948), American entrepreneur and developer of high-tech productsRoger Binny, Indian cricketerRoger Joseph Boscovich, Croatian-Ragusan physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, diplomat, poet, and JesuitRoger Boylan, American writerRoger C. Carmel, American character actorRoger A. Caras, American wildlife photographer and writerRoger Casement, Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary and British diplomatRoger Chaffee, American astronautRoger Chan, The Bus UncleRoger Chao, Australian explorer and mountain climberRoger Christian (songwriter), pop music lyricistRoger Clarke (rugby administrator)Roger Clemens, a baseball playerRoger Cook (journalist)Roger Corman, B-movie director and producerRoger Craig (baseball), baseball playerRoger Craig (American football), American football playerRoger Daltrey, lead singer of British rock band The WhoRoger Davis (television actor), American actorRoger Delgado, British actorRoger Dobkowitz, producer and stats expert for The Price is RightRoger Donaldson, movie producer and directorRoger Ebert, motion picture criticRoger M. Enoka, American neurophysiologistRoger Federer, Swiss tennis playerRoger C. Field, Inventor, industrial designerRoger Galera Flores, Brazilian football (soccer) playerRoger Fortin, Canadian boxerRoger Frampton, British Male ModelRoger Frugardi, medieval surgeonRoger García Junyent, Spanish football (soccer) playerRoger Gibbon, Trinidad and Tobago track cyclistRoger Glover, Welsh/English bassist, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer.Roger Goldammer, Canadian bikebuilderRoger Goodell, Current commissionner of the NFLRoger Guerreiro, Polish football (soccer) player of Brazilian descentRoger Hall (disambiguation)Roger Hodgson, former vocalist and songwriter from SupertrampRoger Howarth, American actorRoger Ilegems, Belgian track cyclist and road bicycle racerRoger Ingram, American trumpeter, educator, and authorRoger Jackson, Canadian rower and academicRoger Jackson (wide receiver), American football playerRoger L. Jackson, American actorRoger José de Noronha Silva, Brazilian football goalkeeperRoger Jouret, birth name of Plastic Bertrand, Belgian singer, musician and television presenterRoger Kettlewell, Canadian football playerRoger Köppel, Swiss journalistRoger Machado Marques, Brazilian football fullbackRoger Lloyd-Pack, British actorRoger Manganelli, bass guitarist for Less Than JakeRoger Maris, baseball playerRoger Mayweather, ex-boxerRoger McGuinn, singer and guitarist for The ByrdsRoger McMurrin, American conductorRoger Meddows-Taylor, British drummer for QueenRoger Michell, film directorRoger Milla, Cameroon international footballerRoger Miller, American musicianRoger Mills (racewalker), English race walkerRoger Moore, English actor most famous for his role as James BondRoger Moreira, Brazilian musicianRoger E. Mosley, American actorRoger Mudd, TV journalistRoger Muñoz, Nicaraguan international basketball playerRoger Penrose, English mathematical physicistRoger Penske, American businessmanRoger Tory Peterson, American ornithologistRoger Pierre (1923–2010), French actorRoger Price (comedy) (1918–1990), American humorist who created Droodles and Mad LibsRoger Price (television producer) (born 1941), English television producerRoger Price (Australian politician) (born 1945), former Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives (1984–2010)Roger Rees, British actorRoger Roger (composer), French composerRoger Sablonier (1941–2010), Swiss historian and writer, University of Zürich facultyRoger Sessions, American music composerRoger Hale Sheaffe, British general in the War of 1812Roger Sheaffe (politician), member of the Queensland Legislative AssemblyRoger Sherman, American revolutionary, signer of many famous documents, inventor of congressional systemRoger Smith, American actorRoger Smith (executive) former Chairman and CEO of General Motors and the subject of Michael Moore's documentary film Roger & Me.Roger Staubach NFL Hall of Famer, 1985 class, Dallas Cowboys, MVP Super Bowl VIRoger Stone, American political consultant, lobbyist, strategist, and authorRoger Sumich, New Zealand cyclistRoger Andrew Taylor, drummer for Duran DuranRoger Toussaint, transit worker's union officialRoger Troutman, also known as Roger, R&B recording artist, singer for ZappRoger Tuivasa-Sheck (born 1993), New Zealand rugby league playerRoger Vadim, French film directorRoger Vangheluwe, former Belgian bishop, resigned following pedophilia scandalRoger Waters, English rock musician and songwriterRoger Whittaker, British singerRoger Wicker (born 1951), U.S. Senator from MississippiRoger Williams (pianist)Roger Williams (theologian), co-founder of Rhode IslandRoger L. Worsley, American educatorRoger Wrightson, English cricketerRoger Zelazny, science-fiction authorNeil Munroe ("Bunny") Roger, English couturier, war heroJulius Roger (1819–1865), entomologistMircea Roger (born 1947), Romanian Olympic rowerPierre Roger, birth name of Pope Clement VIRoger Roger (composer), French composerMarie-Sabine Roger (born 1957), French writerRoger (American Dad!), Roger the Alien, fictional character from American Dad!Roger, character in the short story "Thank You, Ma'am" by Langston HughesRoger, a jolly prankster of the Burger Palace Boys from the hit 50s musical GreaseRoger the Dodger, a character from The BeanoRoger (Hellboy), a homunculus, is a character from the series HellboyRoger (Tekken), a kangaroo character from the Tekken fighting game series, and Roger Jr., his sonRoger Chillingworth, the fictional antagonist in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet LetterRoger Danish, a minor character in Arrested Development, Lindsey's high school counterpart and co-winner of the Best Hair AwardRoger Davis (Rent), musician and ex-druggie of RentRoger Fox, a character from the comic strip FoxTrotRoger Healey, captain/major played by Bill Daily in the I Dream of Jeannie 1960's sitcomRoger Hoyt, the main character on the short-lived series Life with RogerRoger Klotz, a bully on the cartoon series DougRoger LeClerc, a character in the BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!Roger Murtaugh, cop played by Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon moviesRoger Rabbit, cartoon character from the 1988 film Who Framed Roger RabbitRoger Radcliffe (disambiguation):Anita's Husband and love interest and owner of Pongo in Disney's animated film 101 Dalmatiansa boy of the same nameRoger Ramjet, cartoon superheroRoger Smith, the main protagonist of the anime series The Big ORoger Sterling, co-owner of the advertising company Sterling Cooper, a character in the television series Mad MenRoger the Shrubber, a character in Monty Python and the Holy Grail who sells a shrubbery to King Arthur and Sir Bedevere.Roger, a pseudocharacter in Monty Python's Life of Brian whom the crowd wanted Pontius Pilate to release to make fun of his lisp ("Welease Woger".)Roger, a character in the novel Lord of the Flies, Jack's lieutenant and the savage tribe's torturer/hangmanGold Roger (Gol D. Roger), the Pirate King in the manga/anime-series One PieceRoger Walker, one of the central protagonists in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur RansomeRoger Wilco (character), the fictional protagonist of the Space Quest game series