The name Ralph has its origins in the Old Norse language and means "counsel" or "wolf". It is derived from the Old Norse words "ráð" (counsel) and "ulfr" (wolf). The name was popular among the Vikings and Scandinavian settlers who brought it to Britain and other parts of Europe during the Middle Ages.

Ralph was a relatively common name in medieval England, appearing in various historical records and documents from the 11th century onwards. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions several individuals named Ralph.

The name has been borne by several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One of the most famous was Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (c. 1364-1425), an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. Another was Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), the renowned American essayist, philosopher, and poet who was a leading figure in the Transcendentalist movement.

Other notable individuals named Ralph include Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), the English composer known for his works such as "The Lark Ascending" and "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis"; Ralph Ellison (1914-1994), the African American novelist and literary critic best known for his novel "Invisible Man"; and Ralph Fiennes (born 1962), the British actor celebrated for his performances in films like "Schindler's List" and "The English Patient".

While the name Ralph has its roots in Old Norse and medieval England, it has also been used in other cultures and languages. For example, in German, the name is spelled "Ralf" or "Rolph", while in Dutch it is "Ralf" or "Raaf". In Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway, the name retains its original Old Norse form of "Ráðulfr".