Now that everyone has discovered Miles and Hugo, what are all those hipsters going to name their sons?
Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Roscoe as Name of the Day.
Today’s parents might have grown up watching a bumbling lawman sport this name on television. The Dukes of Hazzard featured Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, henchman to the corrupt Boss Hogg. Nearly every episode included Rosco in hot pursuit, only to get left in the General Lee’s dust as the Duke boys made good their escape.
If not Hazzard County, Georgia, Roscoe might conjure up soul food resto chain Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles. Roscoe’s was founded by Harlem-native Herb Hudson and became a favorite with notables from Redd Foxx to Snoop Dogg. Despite the celebrity clientele and California zip code, Roscoe doesn’t pick up any glamour from the establishment.
If Roscoe sounds impossibly hick to your ears, blame the Dukes and the chicken place. But his background is perfectly ordinary.
The original Roscoe is a place name. He’s lost from the modern map, though you’ll still find streets bearing the name in Lancashire, England. There’s some debate about whether the place name or the surname came first, but all roads point to this part of the world as the origin, sometime between the 1200s and the 1500s. It’s still a surname in use today.
As for the meaning, most agree that it comes from the Old Norse rá, for the roe deer, combined with skógr, a thicket of small trees. For years, Roscoe was in steady use, worn by notables such as:
- Nineteenth century New York Senator Roscoe Conkling;
- Daredevils like early racecar driver Roscoe Sarles and Army pilot turned barnstormer Roscoe Turner;
- Hollywood’s Fatty Arbuckle was born Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle – named after the politician. He was a huge star in the earliest days of the movie industry, commanding a $1 million contract. Arbuckle fell from grace during a scandal and died before he could make a comeback, but he remains one of the big screen comedy’s pioneers;
- World War I Navy Captain Roscoe Bulmer and first director of the CIA Roscoe Hillenkoetter are two 20th century leaders;
- Banjo player Roscoe Holcomb was a folk music legend;
- We all grew up with Roscoe Orman, Sesame Street’s Gordon;
- Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver Roscoe Parrish lends the name some athletic flair.
Roscoe peaked in the nineteenth century, ranking #117 in 1888. He fell slowly from the 1920s on, leaving the rankings entirely after 1978.
Instead of heading for obscurity, today Roscoe is being rediscovered by the most daring of baby namers. Nameberry dubbed him a Rising Hipster choice. And the next generation of parents might think not of the General Lee, but of Radio Free Roscoe, a Canadian import than ran on TeenNick. None of the kids wore the name – they attended Henry Roscoe High, where they set up a pirate radio station.
For parents disappointed to discover that Oscar, Leo and Asher are mainstream, Roscoe could be an alternative. His roots run deep, but he’s just a little bit different, too.
It’s the name of a very small town near my hometown, so that’s my first association. As a child, every time we drove by Roscoe we made Dukes of Hazard jokes.
That said, I can see the appeal as it’s very similar to Rocco with the easy nickname of Ross. But strictly a “fine for another person child, but not my style.”
I love Roscoe. You’re right; it sounds like a hipster choice. I’m somewhat of a traditionalist, but if this was a family or dear friend’s name, I would pounce on it! (Although yes, I’m old enough to remember the Dukes of Hazzard…had a big crush on John Schneider.)
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I don’t know why exactly but I’m getting a distinct bodice ripping hero/rogue vibe from this. Very Mills & ‘Swoons’.
I’m not familiar with any of the cultural associations. Growing up, I knew a (British) girl with the lastname Roscoe, so it makes me think of her. Sounds similar to Rocco and Ross, so I could see it becoming more popular.
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A couple at my church recently named their son Bruno Roscoe…which is very hipster now that I think about it. It seems a little hickish for me, but I see a lot of names that way because…well, I am one. (I live in rural Nebraska.) I would never use Roscoe for that reason (Or Otis or Milo, either), but I could see some parents liking it.
P.S. I am in my mid-twenties, and wouldn’t have associated it with the Dukes of Hazzard.
This is an interesting choice for NOTD! It’s one of those names where I get all of the arguments. When I saw it listed as among vintage names on nameberry one day- I was incredible surprised, as I had seen it mentioned as one of those name sthat are only meant for dogs by people on YA.I remember seeing it peaked somewhere in the early 1900s to 1920s or somewhere around there , if I rmember correctly (I used babynamewizard.)So, it’s definetely vintage.
As a name, I much prefer & actually like Ross better. Ross is just simpler and stronger to me.The -coe on it reminds me of the word ‘fresco’ & Roscoe sounds very similar to a coffee brand where I live ( I also can’t drink coffee- it makes me nautious. Not the best of connotations) .So, the name doesn’t really appeal to me to use on a person. I do have absolutely no problem with people using it, though
Regarding the dog comment, what is a dog’s name is relative.If you do research as to what names are popular on dogs – those are often mentioned. I’ve had dogs named Max & Jack respectively : ) Some people feel animals are only supposed to have cutesy names & others feel they deserve to have human name. It’s all relative to the person & their preference. Personally, when people say a name is a dog’s name – I feel it’s a weak argument. Many names that are in the top 100 in many countires are also used incredible frequently on dogs. I don’t think actually take the ‘it’s a dog’s name’ negatively, necessarily. When I think of dogs, I think of loyalty, endless love & true friendship (I’m a dog lover).Now, if they said it was a cat’s name, then we might have a problem : )
Oh, this is all P. Coltrane to me… I mean, I saw the name and finished it out with P. Coltrane in my head before I could read another word. (You know, the P. stands for Purvis!) However, I can definitely see the appeal of the name to the uber-cool folks. I just cannot imagine using it myself after years of watching the Dukes as a kid. That said, you’re right, those in their early- to mid-twenties probably have little link to the show and those younger than that most likely have no idea. The dog aspect is also there, somehow. But I won’t be surprised if I hear Roscoe on kids over the next few years. I’ll just have a picture of the General Lee paused mid-jump in my head every time I hear it.
I like the idea of it – though obviously would never beso daring. However, when I say the name, I think of a shaggy mutt wandering the streets. Yes, it definitely says,”I’m a sweet puppy” to me. However, so do the names, Max, Cooper, and Jack, to millions of people, apparently. Can we all just finally agree on what is and what isn’t a pet name? 😉