Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Rudolf
BoyGermanic, German· “famous wolf”
- Meaning
- famous wolf
- Origin
- Germanic, German
- Pronunciation
- ROO-dahlf
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #720 (1927)
- Peak year
- 1927
Meaning and origin of Rudolf
Rudolf is a Germanic and German name that means “famous wolf”.
Rudolf is a German name from the Germanic hrod, fame, and wulf, wolf. Rudolf of Habsburg, elected king of Germany in the thirteenth century, founded the Habsburg dynasty's power, and the name remained common among its members. It is said ROO-dahlf. Rudy and Dolf are traditional nicknames. The name has a grand, European character. The ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev and the actor Rudolph Valentino made it famous in the twentieth century.
Popularity over time
Rudolf first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 23 different years, starting in 1887. Its best national rank was #720 in 1927, the same year it reached its highest count of 82 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #1,107 in 1920, #1,121 in 1950, #2,601 in 1980, #8,057 in 2000, and #11,913 in 2010. Of the 2,951 US boys named Rudolf since records began, 20% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 419 babies. Since 2010, 74 more have been named Rudolf.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Hillard, Margarito, Lucious, Early, and Norton.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Rudolf is usually pronounced ROO-dahlf, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with R and ends in “-lf”.
Middle names for Rudolf
A few middle names that flow with Rudolf: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rudolf
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Lists that include Rudolf
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rudolf mean?
Rudolf is a Germanic and German name that means “famous wolf”.
What is the origin of the name Rudolf?
Rudolf has Germanic and German roots. Rudolf is a German name from the Germanic hrod, fame, and wulf, wolf.
Is Rudolf a popular name?
No. Rudolf was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Rudolf a boy or girl name?
Rudolf is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Rudolf?
Rudolf is usually pronounced ROO-dahlf. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings