Rudolphus
A Germanic masculine name derived from "hrod" meaning "fame" and "wolf" meaning "wolf".
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Rudolphus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rudolphus today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rudolphus births was 1927 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rudolphus. 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 Rudolphus is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rudolphus' were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rudolphus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1927
5 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1949 SSA rank
#4,123
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Rudolphus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rudolphus from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rudolphus 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 Rudolphus 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 Rudolphus
The name Rudolphus has its origins in the German language, derived from the Old High German name "Hrodolf." This name is composed of two elements: "hrod," meaning "fame" or "renown," and "wolf," meaning "wolf." Consequently, the name Rudolphus translates to "famous wolf" or "renowned wolf."
The name Rudolphus first emerged during the Middle Ages in Germanic regions and eventually spread across Europe. It was particularly prevalent in regions where Germanic languages and cultures had a significant influence, such as Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rudolphus can be found in the 9th century, when it was used by a Frankish nobleman named Rudolphus of Burgundy, who lived from around 820 to 866 AD. He played a prominent role in the political affairs of the Carolingian Empire during that era.
Another notable figure who bore the name Rudolphus was Rudolphus of Fulda, a 9th-century monk and scholar who lived from around 800 to 865 AD. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of theology and for his writings, which included works on biblical exegesis and hagiography.
In the 11th century, Rudolphus of Rheinfelden, a German nobleman who lived from around 1025 to 1080 AD, became the Duke of Swabia and later the King of Germany. He played a significant role in the political struggles of the Holy Roman Empire during his reign.
During the 12th century, Rudolphus of Bruges, a Flemish monk and hagiographer who lived from around 1070 to 1134 AD, gained recognition for his writings on the lives of saints and his contributions to the literary tradition of hagiography.
In the 13th century, Rudolphus of Hapsburg, a German nobleman who lived from 1218 to 1291 AD, ascended to the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. His reign marked a crucial period in the history of the empire, and he is remembered for his efforts to restore imperial authority and consolidate power.
These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who bore the name Rudolphus, illustrating its widespread use and significance across various periods and regions of Europe, particularly in areas influenced by Germanic cultures and languages.
People
Rudolphus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rudolphus 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
Rudolphus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rudolphus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rudolphus 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Rudolphus a common name?
We classify Rudolphus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rudolphus most popular?
The single biggest year for Rudolphus was 1927, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rudolphus is about 79 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 Rudolphus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rudolphus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rudolphus 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 Rudolphus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rudolphus 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 Rudolphus 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 are called Rudolphus?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.