Find out how popular the first name Rip has been for the last 43 years (from 1981 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rip by gender

Based on the last 43 years of data, Rip is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 76 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rip.

The history of the first name Rip

The name Rip is a shortened form of the Dutch name Rip van Winkle, which is derived from the fictional character of the same name in Washington Irving's 1819 short story "Rip Van Winkle". The story is set in the years before and after the American Revolutionary War and tells the tale of a Dutch-American villager who falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains and wakes up 20 years later, having missed the entire war.

The name Rip is not derived from any ancient language or culture but is instead a modern invention inspired by literature. The character's name itself is believed to be a play on the Dutch phrase "rip van de dunkt" which means "a tearing from the stem", a reference to the character's tendency to wander away from his responsibilities.

While the name Rip did not exist prior to the publication of Irving's story, it quickly gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in the United States and other English-speaking countries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rip being used as a given name was for Rip Raps, an American baseball player who was born in 1838 and played for various teams in the early days of professional baseball.

Another notable individual named Rip was Rip Torn, an American actor and comedian who was born in 1931 and had a prolific career spanning over six decades. He was known for his roles in films such as Men in Black and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Rip Sewell, an American baseball player born in 1907, was also a prominent figure who lent his name to the "rip pitch", an unusual pitching motion he developed that involved throwing the ball with a sharp downward spin.

In the music world, Rip Rig + Panic was a British post-punk band formed in 1981, named after a term used in the film Quadrophenia. The band's frontman was Rip Rig, whose real name was Sean O'Brien.

Lastly, Rip Taylor, an American actor and comedian born in 1935, was known for his flamboyant personality and his trademark of throwing confetti during his performances. He appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career.

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 Rip was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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