Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1963

Ralf

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Ralf
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1963
19 babies
All-time total
304
#10,497 all-time among boys
First recorded
1920
in Social Security records

Ralf popularity over time

304 babies have been named Ralf since 1920, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1931Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s 53 5 – #3,335
1930s 24 2 -55% #2,833
1940s 12 1 -50% #2,938
1950s 55 6 +358% #2,813
1960s 102 10 +85% #1,882
1970s 38 4 -63% #4,785
1980s 5 1 -87% #7,043
1990s 5 1 0% #9,911
2000s – – – –
2010s 5 1 – #13,582
2020s (to 2025) 5 1 +67% #13,774

The story of Ralf

Ralf is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1920, 304 American babies have been named Ralf. Its peak came in 1963, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Ralf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ralf?

The median living Ralf is about 61 years old; half are between 54 and 66. An estimated 200 people named Ralf are alive in the United States today.

median 61 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ralf year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 5 #13,774
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 5 #13,582
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 5 #7,043
1975 5 #6,108
1970 5 #5,264
1965 14 #2,244
1960 11 #2,651
1955 6 #3,797
1950 – –
1945 7 #2,938
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 5 #4,436
1925 8 #3,335
1920 8 #3,429
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Ralf

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Ralf Schumacher Ralf Schumacher German racing driver (born 1975) Contemporary
  2. 2 Ralf Rangnick Ralf Rangnick German football manager (born 1958) Contemporary
  3. 3 Ralf Hütter Ralf Hütter German musician and composer (born 1946) Contemporary
  4. 4 Ralf Moeller Ralf Moeller German actor and former competitive bodybuilder b. 1959 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Ralf Dahrendorf Ralf Dahrendorf German-British sociologist and politician (1929–2009) Contemporary
  6. 6 Ralf Fährmann Ralf Fährmann German footballer (born 1988) Contemporary
  7. 7 Ralf Edström Ralf Edström Swedish footballer (born 1952) Contemporary
  8. 8 Ralf Mackenbach Ralf Mackenbach Dutch former child singer (born 1995) Contemporary
  9. 9 Ralf König Ralf König German comic book creator (born 1960) Contemporary
  10. 10 Ralf Ralf Brazilian footballer b. 1984 · Contemporary
  11. 11 Ralf Schumann German 25 m rapid fire pistol shooter b. 1962 · Contemporary
  12. 12 Ralf Falkenmayer German former professional footballer b. 1963 · Contemporary
  13. 13 Ralf Törngren Ralf Törngren Finnish politician (1899–1961) 19th century
  14. 14 Ralf Rothmann Ralf Rothmann German novelist, poet and dramatist b. 1953 · Contemporary
  15. 15 Ralf Bartels Ralf Bartels German shot putter (born 1978) Contemporary
  16. 16 Ralf Krewinkel Ralf Krewinkel Dutch politician b. 1974 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ralf, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ralf?

The median living Ralf is about 61 years old. Half of all living Ralfs are between 54 and 66 years old.

How many people named Ralf are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Ralf are alive in the United States, based on 304 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Ralf in 2025?

Ralf did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ralf?

304 babies have been named Ralf in the United States since 1920, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ralf most popular?

Ralf peaked in 1963, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Ralf a boy or girl name?

Ralf is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ralf rising or falling?

Ralf has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Ralf?

Well-known people named Ralf include Ralf Schumacher (racing driver), Ralf Rangnick (coach), Ralf Hütter (musician).

Names like Ralf

Names that sound and feel close to Ralf: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ralf with similar names → More names starting with R →