Randalph
A masculine variant of the name Randolph meaning "shield wolf".
Name Census estimates that about 22 living Americans carry the first name Randalph. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Randalph today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Randalph births was 1953 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Randalph. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Randalph is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Randalphs were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Randalph. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
22
~ 1 in 15,579,743 Americans
Peak year
1953
7 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1961 SSA rank
#4,518
Tracked since 1948
Popularity
Randalph: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Randalph from the 1940s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 19 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Randalph by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Randalph during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Randalph
The name Randalph has its origins in the Old English language, with roots dating back to the 8th century AD. The name is derived from the Old English elements "rand," meaning "rim" or "border," and "alf," meaning "elf" or "supernatural being." Collectively, the name Randalph can be interpreted as "rim protector" or "border guardian."
This name was particularly prevalent among the Anglo-Saxon communities of what is now England and parts of northern Europe. Variations in spelling, such as Randolph and Randulph, were common during the Middle Ages due to the fluid nature of written language at that time.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Randalph can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions several individuals bearing the name, indicating its widespread use among the Anglo-Saxon population.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Randalph. One of the most prominent was Randalph de Gernon, a Norman nobleman who lived in the 11th century and played a significant role in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Another notable bearer of the name was Randalph de Blundevill, Earl of Chester and one of the most powerful barons in England during the 12th century.
In the realm of literature, the name Randalph appears in several works, including Sir Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe," where a character named Randalph de Villiers is depicted as a follower of Prince John.
Other notable individuals with the name Randalph include:
1. Randalph Galt (1753-1834), a Scottish-American writer and explorer known for his contributions to the settlement of the Midwest United States.
2. Randalph Bourne (1886-1918), an American progressive writer and public intellectual who coined the term "trans-national America."
3. Randalph Calldicott (1904-1995), a British composer and conductor known for his orchestral and choral works.
4. Randalph Kirton (1929-1991), a Jamaican politician and lawyer who served as the Attorney General of Jamaica.
5. Randalph Mantooth (born 1945), an American actor best known for his role as John Gage in the television series "Emergency!"
While the name Randalph has its roots in Old English and was particularly prevalent among Anglo-Saxon communities, it has transcended its origins and been adopted by various cultures and societies throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of human civilization.
People
Randalph + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Randalph as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Randalph: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Randalph?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 22 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Randalph going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 15,579,743 US residents.
Is Randalph a common name?
We classify Randalph as "Very Rare". It ranks above 41.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Randalph most popular?
The single biggest year for Randalph was 1953, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Randalph is about 71 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Randalph in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Randalph a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Randalph in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Randalph still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Randalph in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Randalph can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Randalph?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.