Dudley Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dudley is an Old English name meaning 'stout wood clearing', originating from the elements 'dudda' and 'leah'. It evolved from the name Dudda and has a historical presence as a surname before becoming a given name. Dudley is perceived as traditional and charming, with no significant biblical relevance. Notable individuals include Dudley Moore and Dudley Knight.
The name Dudley is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Dudley has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dudley' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 417th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 443rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 568th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1150th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2452nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6327th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8211th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5159th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4803rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 10657th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Dudley' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dudley"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʌdli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Dudley is derived from the Old English elements 'dudda', which means 'a person with a stout build', and 'leah', meaning 'woodland clearing'.
Meaning
Stout wood clearing
Language Evolution
Dudda, Dudley
Historical Usage
Dudley gained popularity as a surname in England during the Middle Ages and later became used as a given name. It has been particularly notable since the 16th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Dud, Dudders
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Dudley is viewed as a somewhat traditional name, often associated with a vintage or classic charm. It has a quirky, friendly connotation.
Famous People
Dudley Moore, Dudley Knight
Explore More Dudley Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dudley"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Dudley"
"Dudley" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 417th of 7545 | 3,239 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 443rd of 6773 | 3,234 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 568th of 7552 | 3,303 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1150th of 10718 | 827 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2452nd of 16616 | 413 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6327th of 24088 | 184 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 8211th of 23106 | 107 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5159th of 9107 | 48 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4803rd of 9204 | 61 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 10657th of 12526 | 11 |
Regional Popularity of "Dudley" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
33.47% 474th/1416 |
31.83% 439th/1379 |
15.47% 366th/2366 |
35.38% 404th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
31.76% 491st/1546 |
29.63% 461st/1556 |
16.36% 385th/2353 |
29.48% 456th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
28.02% 624th/2227 |
26.01% 632nd/2430 |
17.21% 491st/2853 |
26.85% 745th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
40.68% 1417th/3483 |
28.17% 991st/3518 |
42.21% 1707th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
40.20% 1799th/4475 |
50.17% 2606th/5194 |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Dudley" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dudley"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dudley" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.