Given name & surname
Rosa
“horse”·“fame”
Rosa is a variant of Rose. The rose flower is one clear association. Proposed Germanic roots include words for “horse” or “fame,” so one explanation need not cover every historical use.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Rosa is a variant of Rose. The rose flower is one clear association. Proposed Germanic roots include words for “horse” or “fame,” so one explanation need not cover every historical use.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Rosa is a variant of Rose. Rose’s flower association connects it with Latin rosa. Some medieval uses may instead continue shortened Germanic names.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Rosa is a short form of Rosalinde. Rosa is a variant of Rose. The shared background comes through Rose: Rose may combine several histories: the flower word, its religious symbolism, and shortened Germanic compounds. Rose can also serve as a short form of longer Ros- names.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Rosa is a variant of Rose. The history of Rose gives this family its wider story. Rose was used in the Middle Ages, with the Latinized form Rohesia appearing in medieval documents.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Rosa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 178,588
- 1,173 boys · 177,415 girls
- Most popular year
- 1925
- 2,245 babies
- 2025
- 441
- #653 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 441 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 653 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 0.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,230 in 1925. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (56). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 254,275 as a first name in 2020; 34,111 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rosa’s family of names
Rosa has an affectionate form in Rosie. Rosa shares a linguistic root with Rose. In German usage, Rosa has a related form in Rosalie.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Rosa has relatives in 18 languages.
29 related names in 18 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 21
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Rosa
- Rosa LuxemburgPolish-German Marxist revolutionary (1871–1919)
- Rosa Parkscivil rights activist1913–2005
- Lys AssiaSwiss singer (1924-2018)
- Rosa BonheurFrench artist (1822-1899)
- Rosa SalazarAmerican actress (born 1985)
- Rosa MonteroSpanish writerborn 1951
- Rosa MotaPortoguese athletics competitorborn 1958
- Rosi MittermaierGerman alpine skier (1950–2023)
- Rosa SensatSpanish teacher1873–1961
Characters named Rosa: Rosa Klebb (James Bond story).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rosa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rozella
“of the rose garden” · “horse”
>99% girls
Geneva
“of the juniper tree”
>99% girls
Iva
“of the yew tree”
>99% girls
Lillie
“resembling the lily”
>99% girls
Pearl
“a precious gem of the sea”
>99% girls
Antoinette
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% girls
Muriel
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls