The name Rodolfo is of Germanic origin, derived from the elements "rod" meaning fame and "wolf" meaning wolf. It dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD, and was commonly used in various Germanic tribes and communities across Europe.

The earliest recorded use of the name Rodolfo can be found in the Frankish chronicles of the 6th century, where it was mentioned as the name of several Frankish nobles and warriors. One notable bearer of the name was Rodolfo, a Frankish count who fought alongside Charlemagne in the late 8th century.

In the 9th century, the name Rodolfo gained prominence among the ruling dynasties of several European kingdoms. Rudolf I of Burgundy, born in 859, was a prominent figure who ruled as the King of Upper Burgundy from 888 to 912. Another notable figure was Rudolf I of Germany, born in 1218, who was elected as the King of the Romans in 1273 and later became the Holy Roman Emperor.

During the Renaissance period, the name Rodolfo was popularized by several influential figures, including Rodolfo Pio da Carpi, an Italian humanist and scholar who lived from 1460 to 1522. Another notable bearer of the name was Rodolfo Lanciani, an Italian archaeologist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Rome in the 19th century.

In the arts and literature, the name Rodolfo has been associated with several famous individuals. One of the most renowned was Rodolfo Valentino, the iconic Italian-American actor who became a cultural icon during the silent film era, born in 1895 and died in 1926. Another notable figure was Rodolfo Halffter, a Mexican composer and conductor, who lived from 1900 to 1987 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Mexican classical music.

Other notable individuals with the name Rodolfo include Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, a Mexican politician and activist who played a crucial role in the Mexican Revolution, born in 1882 and died in 1915. Rodolfo Neri Vela, a Mexican astronomer and mathematician, who lived from 1952 to 2020, made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the dynamics of small bodies in the Solar System.