Randal first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Randal has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Randal

Shield wolf; derived from the Germanic elements "rand" meaning shield and "wulf" meaning wolf.

Popularity of Randal by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Randal is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Randal being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Randal.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 11 0
2022 25 0
2021 20 0
2020 29 0
2019 20 0
2018 30 0
2017 27 0
2016 24 0
2015 41 0
2014 30 0
2013 27 0
2012 27 0
2011 37 0
2010 44 0
2009 28 0
2008 47 0
2007 55 0
2006 56 0
2005 41 0
2004 58 0
2003 52 0
2002 72 0
2001 54 0
2000 70 0
1999 95 0
1998 90 0
1997 108 0
1996 79 0
1995 113 0
1994 136 7
1993 165 5
1992 152 0
1991 180 5
1990 199 8
1989 238 7
1988 227 11
1987 236 24
1986 232 37
1985 262 0
1984 231 0
1983 231 0
1982 253 0
1981 275 0
1980 234 0
1979 237 0
1978 246 0
1977 272 0
1976 260 0
1975 302 0
1974 299 0

The history of the first name Randal

The name Randal is of Germanic origin, deriving from the Old German word "rent" meaning "shield" and "wahl" meaning "rule" or "leader". It is believed to have first emerged as a personal name during the Middle Ages, around the 8th or 9th century AD.

The earliest recorded use of the name Randal can be traced back to the 11th century, where it was found in various medieval records and chronicles across Europe. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Randal de Gernon, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 11th century and fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 12th century, Randal was a relatively popular name among the Anglo-Norman aristocracy in England. One notable figure was Randal de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, who lived from around 1170 to 1232 and was a prominent military leader and nobleman during the reign of King John.

The name Randal also appears in various literary works from the Middle Ages, including the epic poem "Beowulf" where it is mentioned as the name of a Danish warrior. It is also found in some early English and Scottish ballads and folktales, highlighting its widespread use across different cultures.

During the Renaissance period, the name Randal gained popularity in parts of Europe, particularly in England and Scotland. One notable bearer of the name was Randal McDonnell, an Irish chieftain and leader of the McDonnell clan in the 16th century, who played a significant role in the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

In more recent history, several notable individuals have borne the name Randal, including Randal Cremer (1828-1908), a British politician and pacifist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1903. Another notable figure was Randal Kleiser (born 1946), an American film director known for directing films such as "Grease" and "The Blue Lagoon".

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Randal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Randal, please contact us.

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"Randal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/randal-meaning-and-history/.

"Randal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/randal-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Randal first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/randal-meaning-and-history/.

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