Rudy first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rudy has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rudy

A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "bright renown", "famous", or "bright-natured".

Popularity of Rudy by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rudy is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Rudy being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 292 male babies and 20 female babies born with the name Rudy.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 20 baby girls were named Rudy in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 292 20
2022 282 10
2021 290 16
2020 264 16
2019 256 24
2018 272 16
2017 246 17
2016 262 14
2015 266 8
2014 255 5
2013 271 8
2012 286 11
2011 310 5
2010 309 10
2009 327 5
2008 389 10
2007 334 0
2006 375 14
2005 386 0
2004 415 12
2003 391 10
2002 396 15
2001 415 6
2000 386 8
1999 413 8
1998 400 13
1997 484 8
1996 463 18
1995 490 18
1994 519 17
1993 515 21
1992 598 19
1991 562 20
1990 602 20
1989 596 22
1988 580 26
1987 559 17
1986 557 27
1985 515 17
1984 495 8
1983 503 8
1982 533 9
1981 520 0
1980 495 10
1979 542 10
1978 553 8
1977 544 12
1976 500 10
1975 473 5
1974 451 0

The history of the first name Rudy

The name Rudy has its origins in the Germanic language, derived from the Old German word "hruod," which means "fame" or "renown." It was initially a short form of the longer name Rudolph, which was composed of the elements "hruod" (fame) and "wolf" (wolf).

In the early Middle Ages, the name Rudolph gained popularity in various Germanic regions, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, and parts of Austria. It was often associated with nobility and royalty, as evidenced by historical figures such as Rudolph I of Germany, who reigned as King of the Romans from 1273 to 1291.

The shortened form, Rudy, emerged as a nickname or diminutive form of Rudolph during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. It became more widely used as a standalone name, particularly in English-speaking countries, due to its simpler and more casual nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rudy can be found in the 16th century, when Rudy Ackermann, a German painter and engraver, lived and worked in Nuremberg, Germany (born around 1512, died in 1577).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rudy. These include Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City (born in 1944) known for his leadership during the 9/11 attacks; Rudy Vallee, an American singer, actor, and entertainer (1901-1986) who popularized the crooning style of singing; Rudy Perpich, a former Governor of Minnesota (1928-1995); Rudy Huyn, a French software engineer and developer (born in 1991); and Rudy Buttiglione, an Italian philosopher and politician (born in 1947).

While the name Rudy has maintained its popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in Europe and the United States, it has also undergone adaptations and variations in different cultures and languages. However, its Germanic roots and association with fame and renown remain a consistent thread throughout its history.

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

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

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rudy first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rudy-meaning-and-history/.

"Rudy first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rudy-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Rudy first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rudy-meaning-and-history/.

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