Rudolph
Borrowed from German Rudolph, Rudolf (compare Proto-Germanic *Hrōþiwulfaz).
Every Rudolph since 1880 — 53,638 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rudolph
Rudolph is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,231 in 2025 with 25 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 53,638 American babies have been named Rudolph. Its peak came in 1927, when 1,700 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
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 Rudolph stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rudolph 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 | — | — | 25 | #4,231 |
| 2024 | — | — | 34 | #3,444 |
| 2023 | — | — | 22 | #4,715 |
| 2022 | — | — | 30 | #3,755 |
| 2021 | — | — | 31 | #3,635 |
| 2020 | — | — | 28 | #3,793 |
| 2019 | — | — | 41 | #2,985 |
| 2018 | — | — | 34 | #3,358 |
| 2017 | — | — | 40 | #2,997 |
| 2016 | — | — | 34 | #3,350 |
| 2015 | — | — | 41 | #2,908 |
| 2014 | — | — | 47 | #2,614 |
| 2013 | — | — | 36 | #3,111 |
| 2012 | — | — | 43 | #2,806 |
| 2011 | — | — | 44 | #2,732 |
| 2010 | — | — | 32 | #3,433 |
| 2009 | — | — | 35 | #3,262 |
| 2008 | — | — | 54 | #2,401 |
| 2007 | — | — | 45 | #2,711 |
| 2006 | — | — | 50 | #2,469 |
| 2005 | — | — | 58 | #2,125 |
| 2004 | — | — | 59 | #2,047 |
| 2003 | — | — | 65 | #1,838 |
| 2002 | — | — | 69 | #1,706 |
| 2001 | — | — | 82 | #1,499 |
| 2000 | — | — | 72 | #1,638 |
| 1995 | — | — | 105 | #1,120 |
| 1990 | — | — | 146 | #848 |
| 1985 | — | — | 157 | #705 |
| 1980 | — | — | 196 | #625 |
| 1975 | — | — | 188 | #588 |
| 1970 | — | — | 309 | #462 |
| 1965 | — | — | 328 | #426 |
| 1960 | — | — | 442 | #377 |
| 1955 | 7 | #5,120 | 653 | #281 |
| 1950 | — | — | 756 | #239 |
| 1945 | 5 | #5,130 | 574 | #235 |
| 1940 | 5 | #4,920 | 622 | #206 |
| 1935 | — | — | 745 | #181 |
| 1930 | 15 | #2,288 | 1,219 | #140 |
| 1925 | 12 | #2,917 | 1,240 | #136 |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,638 | 830 | #169 |
| 1915 | 6 | #4,184 | 974 | #135 |
| 1910 | — | — | 218 | #147 |
| 1905 | — | — | 132 | #156 |
| 1900 | — | — | 147 | #145 |
| 1895 | — | — | 106 | #147 |
| 1890 | — | — | 92 | #154 |
| 1885 | — | — | 70 | #189 |
| 1880 | — | — | 54 | #218 |
Famous people named Rudolph
- Rudolph Valentino Actor · 1895–1926
- Rudolph of France Politician · 890–936
- Rudolph II of Burgundy Politician · 888–937
- Rudolph III of Burgundy Politician · 971–1032
- Rudolph I of Burgundy Politician · 859–912
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rudolph mean?
Borrowed from German Rudolph, Rudolf (compare Proto-Germanic *Hrōþiwulfaz).
How popular is the name Rudolph in 2025?
Rudolph ranked #4,231 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 25 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rudolph?
53,638 babies have been named Rudolph in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rudolph most popular?
Rudolph peaked in 1927, when 1,700 newborns received the name.
Is Rudolph a boy or girl name?
Rudolph is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rudolph rising or falling?
Rudolph is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rudolph?
Well-known people named Rudolph include Rudolph Valentino (actor), Rudolph of France (politician), Rudolph II of Burgundy (politician).