Roger


Roger 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, χrōþi and gār, gēr . 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.

Slang

Roger is also a short version of the term "Jolly Roger", which refers to a black flag with a white skull and crossbones, formerly used by sea pirates since as early as 1723.
From to, Roger was slang for the word "penis", possibly 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".

Spellings

The following forenames are related to the English given name Roger:

Given name

Medieval period

See also, and for people with these names