Rudolph
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
53,610 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1927 Peak Popularity Year
1,700 Peak Births

Rudolph Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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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.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rudolph"

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Pronunciation

/ˈruː.dɒlf/

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Origin

Germanic

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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.

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Meaning

Famous wolf

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Language Evolution

Hruodolf (Old High German), Rudulf (Old Norse), Rudolf (Modern German)

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Historical Usage

Rudolph gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to its association with nobility and its use in literature and folklore.

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Variants & Derivatives

Rudolf, Rudolphe, Rudolfs, Rudy

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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.

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Famous People

Rudolph Valentino (actor), Rudolph Diesel (engineer), Rudolph Nureyev (ballet dancer)

📊 Rudolph Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Rudolph Name Visualizations

✨ Rudolph Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 1,700 peak births in 1927

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 50 US states, with strongest presence in District of Columbia

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Rudolph" - Complete Guide (5 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Rudolph". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Rudolph" that fits your preferences.

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.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Rudolph" in the United States

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.

Infographic: Rudolph name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Rudolph,