Rudolph

Rudolph - A very unique male name

Rudolph appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #150. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rudolph and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rudolph? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Rudolph. The baby boy name Rudolph was given to 5 baby boys in 2025, ranking #4252 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 293,257 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rudolph peaked in popularity 100 years ago in 1926 on position 111.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rudolph, 1-5?

Rudolph is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rudolph is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #2,741 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,741.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Rudolph is where you live.

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Rudolph origin and meaning

German — English form of Rudolf

From Germanic Hrodulf: hrod, 'fame', and wolf, 'wolf' — 'famous wolf'

Rudolph is the English spelling of the German name Rudolf, borne by emperors and saints. In America it peaked in 1927 and has declined ever since; since 1939 its dominant association has been a fictional reindeer, which both preserves and burdens it.

Attested etymology

Rudolph is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Rudolph, pop culture references for the name Rudolph and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Rudolph

We've found the following names that sound similar to Rudolph, sorted by popularity.

Rodolfo / Rudolfo / Rudolf / Rudolpho / Rodolphe /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Rudolph

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Rudolph a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Rudolph?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

ROO-dolf · /ˈruːdɒlf/

Around the world

• Rudolf (German) — The German form of the same name.
• Rodolphe (French) — The French form of the same name.

Spellings and nicknames

• Rudolf — The German spelling, also recorded in the US data; a separate entry.

Nicknames: RudyDolph

Famous bearers

• Rudolph Valentino — Silent-film star, born Rodolfo Alfonso Guglielmi and famous under the name Rudolph Valentino (1895–1926) Historical
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — The glowing-nosed reindeer created for a 1939 Montgomery Ward booklet and the 1949 song (Fictional, 1939) Fictional

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Rudolph appeals to parents who love its old-world formality — and can make peace with the reindeer.

Worth knowing

• The Christmas reindeer association is overwhelming and invites seasonal teasing every December.
• Falling for decades and now very rare, it reads as a great-grandfather name.