Rudi: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#9,541

among boys · ↑1,175 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Rudi · -25% vs 2024

How common

1 in 213,510

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1986

41 babies

All-time total

1,246

#6,082 all-time among boys

First recorded

1931

in Social Security records

Rudi popularity over time

1,246 babies have been named Rudi since 1931, 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

BoysGirls

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	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	18	18	2	–	#3,348
1940s	–	22	22	2	+22%	#2,933
1950s	–	80	80	8	+264%	#2,077
1960s	–	110	110	11	+38%	#1,963
1970s	–	104	104	10	-5%	#2,462
1980s	104	121	225	23	+116%	#3,071
1990s	161	109	270	27	+20%	#3,431
2000s	86	90	176	18	-35%	#5,738
2010s	53	61	114	11	-35%	#7,001
2020s (to 2025)	81	46	127	21	+86%	#7,654

The story of Rudi

Rudi is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,541 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1931, 1,246 American babies have been named Rudi, about 61% boys and 39% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1986, when 41 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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

How old are people named Rudi?

The median living Rudi is about 32 years old; half are between 19 and 43. An estimated 1,200 people named Rudi are alive in the United States today.

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

Rudi 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	10	#9,980	8	#9,541
2024	17	#6,884	7	#10,716
2023	8	#11,997	9	#8,792
2022	13	#8,444	11	#7,654
2021	19	#6,372	5	#13,709
2020	14	#7,889	6	#11,745
2019	10	#10,330	8	#9,584
2018	9	#11,263	8	#9,501
2017	7	#13,838	8	#9,524
2016	9	#11,612	5	#13,815
2015	7	#14,224	12	#7,001
2014	5	#18,699	–	–
2013	6	#16,165	5	#13,685
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	10	#7,956
2010	–	–	5	#13,863
2009	5	#19,635	11	#7,597
2008	7	#15,085	10	#8,181
2007	10	#11,465	6	#12,074
2006	12	#9,791	9	#8,598
2005	7	#14,199	12	#6,547
2004	14	#8,147	14	#5,738
2003	8	#12,178	7	#9,415
2002	6	#15,023	5	#12,144
2001	9	#10,836	10	#6,840
2000	8	#11,564	6	#10,094
1995	17	#5,638	10	#5,828
1990	21	#4,653	12	#4,623
1985	15	#5,030	9	#4,624
1980	–	–	15	#3,071
1975	–	–	9	#3,888
1970	–	–	5	#5,312
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	18	#1,963
1955	–	–	7	#3,455
1950	–	–	11	#2,418
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Rudi

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

1 Rudi Garcia French football manager (born 1964) Contemporary
2 Rudi Völler German footballer and manager b. 1960 · Contemporary
3 Rudi Dutschke German student activist (1940–1979) Contemporary
4 Rudi Glöckner German football referee (1929–1999) Contemporary
5 Rudi Skácel Czech footballer (born 1979) Contemporary
6 Rudi Carrell Dutch entertainer (1934–2006) Contemporary
7 Rudi Assauer German football player and executive (1944–2019) Contemporary
8 Rudi Altig German cyclist (1937–2016) Contemporary
9 Rudi Fischer Swiss racing driver (1912–1976) Contemporary
10 Rudi Smidts Belgian footballer b. 1963 · Contemporary
11 Rudi Hoffmann German footballer (1935–2020) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Rudi?

The median living Rudi is about 32 years old. Half of all living Rudis are between 19 and 43 years old.

How many people named Rudi are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Rudi are alive in the United States, based on 1,246 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Rudi mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Rudolf, from German.

How popular is the name Rudi in 2025?

Rudi ranked #9,541 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rudi?

1,246 babies have been named Rudi in the United States since 1931, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rudi most popular?

Rudi peaked in 1986, when 41 newborns received the name.

Is Rudi a boy or girl name?

Rudi is used for both: about 39% of babies named Rudi have been girls and 61% boys.

Is the name Rudi rising or falling?

Rudi is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Rudi?

Well-known people named Rudi include Rudi Garcia (soccer player), Rudi Völler (soccer player), Rudi Dutschke (social activist).

Names like Rudi

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

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