Find out how popular the first name Rutger has been for the last 35 years (from 1987 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rutger by gender

Based on the last 35 years of data, Rutger is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rutger.

The history of the first name Rutger

The name Rutger originated in the Netherlands and Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Germanic elements "hruod" meaning "fame" and "ger" meaning "spear". The name essentially translates to "famous spearman" or "renowned warrior".

Rutger was a popular name among the Franks, a Germanic tribe that settled in the region that is now the Netherlands and parts of Germany. It has been used as a given name in these regions since the 8th century AD.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rutger is from the 9th century Carolingian dynasty. Rutger was the name of a nobleman who served as a courtier to the Frankish king Louis the Pious.

In the 11th century, a monk named Rutger of St. Trond lived in the Benedictine abbey of St. Trond in present-day Belgium. He is known for writing several religious texts and hymns during his lifetime.

During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the name Rutger was borne by several notable individuals. Rutger Huygens (1625-1664) was a distinguished jurist and diplomat who served in the court of the Dutch Stadtholder. Rutger Hermannides (1616-1688) was a Dutch theologian and philosopher who made contributions to the field of education.

In more recent times, the name Rutger has been carried by the Dutch-American actor Rutger Hauer (1944-2019), who gained international fame for his roles in films such as Blade Runner and The Hitcher.

Another notable bearer of the name Rutger is the Dutch artist Rutger Grau (1723-1777), who was a prominent painter of portraits and historical scenes during the 18th century.

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

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

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