Rudi
A diminutive of the male given name Rudolf, from German.
Every Rudi since 1931 — 1,246 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Rudi Völler Soccer player · b. 1960
- Rudi Dutschke Social activist · 1940–1979
- Rudi Altig Cyclist · 1937–2016
- Rudi Garcia Soccer player · b. 1964
- Rudi Carrell Presenter · 1934–2006
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 Völler (soccer player), Rudi Dutschke (social activist), Rudi Altig (cyclist).