Rudolph Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rudolph is a Germanic name that means 'famous wolf'. It evolved from Old High German and has roots in the Middle Ages. The name carries connotations of nobility and strength. It has no biblical relevance. While it gained popularity in the 19th century, it is now often associated with festive folklore.
The name Rudolph is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Rudolph has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female 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 female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Rudolph' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 142nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 181st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 299th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 524th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 823rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2097th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3276th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4292nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4090th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 9454th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 15863rd out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Rudolph' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rudolph"
Pronunciation
/ˈruː.dɒlf/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Rudolph derives from the Old High German elements 'hruod', meaning 'fame', and 'olf', meaning 'wolf'. It has been used since the Middle Ages.
Meaning
Famous wolf
Language Evolution
Hruodolf (Old High German), Rudulf (Old Norse), Rudolf (Modern German)
Historical Usage
Rudolph gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to its association with nobility and its use in literature and folklore.
Variants & Derivatives
Rudolf, Rudolphe, Rudolfs, Rudy
Modern Popularity & Image
The name Rudolph is often associated with the character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which has contributed to its popularity during the Christmas season but is less commonly used as a first name today.
Famous People
Rudolph Valentino (actor), Rudolph Diesel (engineer), Rudolph Nureyev (ballet dancer)
Explore More Rudolph Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rudolph"
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 "Rudolph"
"Rudolph" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 142nd of 7545 | 18,082 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 181st of 6773 | 14,418 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 299th of 7552 | 11,570 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 524th of 10718 | 3,859 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 823rd of 16616 | 2,330 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2097th of 24088 | 939 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3276th of 23106 | 418 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4292nd of 9107 | 79 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4090th of 9204 | 89 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 9454th of 12526 | 18 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 15863rd of 19264 | 11 |
Regional Popularity of "Rudolph" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
9.39% 133rd/1416 |
7.40% 102nd/1379 |
7.65% 181st/2366 |
13.40% 153rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.00% 201st/1546 |
8.23% 128th/1556 |
8.46% 199th/2353 |
13.06% 202nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
15.00% 334th/2227 |
10.21% 248th/2430 |
10.52% 300th/2853 |
10.27% 285th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.22% 594th/2937 |
12.14% 423rd/3483 |
15.52% 546th/3518 |
11.25% 455th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
27.63% 1018th/3685 |
14.79% 662nd/4475 |
17.06% 886th/5194 |
11.78% 744th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
55.52% 2544th/4582 |
34.20% 1766th/5164 |
30.36% 2220th/7313 |
24.76% 1848th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
62.96% 2825th/4487 |
52.68% 3594th/6822 |
52.84% 3316th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Rudolph" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
100.00% 2366th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
95.76% 1490th/1556 |
- | - |
| 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 "Rudolph"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rudolph" 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.