Rocky started as a nickname for Rocco, an Italian name of Germanic origin usually explained as "rest", and for anyone as solid as a "rock". Boxer Rocky Marciano and Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa made it a symbol of grit and the underdog spirit. In the United States Rocky ranked number 905 in 2000, re-entered the top 1000 in 2013 and jumps to number 568 among boys' names in 2025, its best rank yet.