Randolph
From Old Norse rǫnd (“shield”) + úlfr (“wolf”).
Every Randolph since 1880 — 49,536 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Randolph
Randolph is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,003 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 49,536 American babies have been named Randolph. Its peak came in 1952, when 1,817 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Randolph stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Randolph year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 20 | #5,003 |
| 2024 | — | — | 17 | #5,603 |
| 2023 | — | — | 30 | #3,782 |
| 2022 | — | — | 20 | #4,978 |
| 2021 | — | — | 18 | #5,287 |
| 2020 | — | — | 28 | #3,786 |
| 2019 | — | — | 26 | #4,085 |
| 2018 | — | — | 39 | #3,041 |
| 2017 | — | — | 42 | #2,878 |
| 2016 | — | — | 36 | #3,211 |
| 2015 | — | — | 45 | #2,709 |
| 2014 | — | — | 51 | #2,484 |
| 2013 | — | — | 41 | #2,832 |
| 2012 | — | — | 46 | #2,668 |
| 2011 | — | — | 59 | #2,223 |
| 2010 | — | — | 49 | #2,542 |
| 2009 | — | — | 56 | #2,343 |
| 2008 | — | — | 57 | #2,318 |
| 2007 | — | — | 70 | #2,015 |
| 2006 | — | — | 76 | #1,819 |
| 2005 | — | — | 74 | #1,785 |
| 2004 | — | — | 66 | #1,873 |
| 2003 | — | — | 80 | #1,588 |
| 2002 | — | — | 104 | #1,301 |
| 2001 | — | — | 107 | #1,252 |
| 2000 | — | — | 109 | #1,234 |
| 1995 | — | — | 162 | #850 |
| 1990 | — | — | 227 | #672 |
| 1985 | — | — | 326 | #480 |
| 1980 | — | — | 308 | #480 |
| 1975 | — | — | 355 | #409 |
| 1970 | — | — | 569 | #334 |
| 1965 | 8 | #5,182 | 779 | #266 |
| 1960 | 6 | #6,225 | 1,081 | #244 |
| 1955 | — | — | 1,765 | #162 |
| 1950 | 6 | #5,161 | 1,550 | #162 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,099 | 645 | #214 |
| 1940 | — | — | 382 | #287 |
| 1935 | — | — | 312 | #307 |
| 1930 | — | — | 271 | #339 |
| 1925 | — | — | 267 | #365 |
| 1920 | — | — | 293 | #340 |
| 1915 | — | — | 220 | #362 |
| 1910 | — | — | 65 | #308 |
| 1905 | — | — | 40 | #318 |
| 1900 | — | — | 50 | #295 |
| 1895 | — | — | 29 | #345 |
| 1890 | — | — | 21 | #403 |
| 1885 | — | — | 21 | #395 |
| 1880 | — | — | 19 | #398 |
Famous people named Randolph
- Randolph Scott Actor · 1898–1987
- Randolph Churchill Politician · 1911–1968
- Randolph Bresnik Astronaut · b. 1967
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Randolph mean?
From Old Norse rǫnd (“shield”) + úlfr (“wolf”).
How popular is the name Randolph in 2025?
Randolph ranked #5,003 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Randolph?
49,536 babies have been named Randolph in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Randolph most popular?
Randolph peaked in 1952, when 1,817 newborns received the name.
Is Randolph a boy or girl name?
Randolph is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Randolph rising or falling?
Randolph is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Randolph?
Well-known people named Randolph include Randolph Scott (actor), Randolph Churchill (politician), Randolph Bresnik (astronaut).