Rudalph
A Germanic masculine name meaning "famous wolf".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Rudalph. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rudalph today is around 84 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rudalph births was 1927 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rudalph. 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 Rudalph is about 84 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rudalphs were born before 1952.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rudalph. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1927
7 babies that year
Average age
84
years old
1932 SSA rank
#4,203
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Rudalph: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rudalph from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 7 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Rudalph remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rudalph 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 Rudalph 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 Rudalph
The name Rudalph is a unique and intriguing one, with roots that can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes of central Europe. Its origins lie in the Old High German language, where it was derived from the words "rod" (meaning "fame" or "counsel") and "alf" (meaning "elf" or "supernatural being"). This combination suggests that the name may have been associated with those who were believed to possess wisdom or have connections to the mystical realm.
During the Middle Ages, the name Rudalph gained popularity among the noble classes of Germanic-speaking regions, particularly in areas that are now part of modern-day Germany and Austria. It was often bestowed upon those who were admired for their intelligence, leadership qualities, or affinity for the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rudalph can be found in the Codex Sangallensis, a 9th-century manuscript from the Abbey of St. Gall in present-day Switzerland. This document contains a list of personal names, including Rudalph, indicating its usage during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rudalph. One such figure was Rudalph von Rheinfelden (c. 1025-1080), a German nobleman who served as the Duke of Swabia and later became the King of Germany from 1077 to 1080. His reign was marked by conflicts with the papacy and the struggle for power within the Holy Roman Empire.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Rudalph von Salis (1599-1670), a Swiss Protestant nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the Thirty Years' War. He commanded Swiss mercenary forces and was known for his bravery and strategic prowess on the battlefield.
In the realm of literature, Rudalph Anschütz (1803-1871) was a German writer and poet who gained recognition for his romantic and patriotic works. His collection of poems, "Rheinische Gedichte" (Rhenish Poems), published in 1840, celebrated the beauty and cultural heritage of the Rhine region.
Rudalph Virchow (1821-1902), a renowned German physician and anthropologist, made groundbreaking contributions to the field of pathology. He is credited with coining the term "leukemia" and is considered one of the founders of modern cellular pathology and social medicine.
Lastly, Rudalph Mayer (1876-1948) was an Austrian painter and printmaker who was part of the Viennese Secession movement. His works, which often depicted landscapes and rural scenes, were characterized by their vivid colors and expressive brushwork, reflecting the influence of Impressionism and Expressionism.
While the name Rudalph may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and connection to various cultural and historical figures serve as a testament to its enduring legacy and the fascinating stories it holds.
People
Rudalph + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rudalph 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
Rudalph: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rudalph?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rudalph 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Rudalph a common name?
We classify Rudalph as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rudalph most popular?
The single biggest year for Rudalph was 1927, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rudalph is about 84 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 Rudalph in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rudalph a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rudalph 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 Rudalph still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rudalph 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 Rudalph 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 Rudalph as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.