Rudolf: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Rudolf

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1927

82 babies

All-time total

2,951

#2,563 all-time among boys

First recorded

1882

in Social Security records

Rudolf popularity over time

2,951 babies have been named Rudolf since 1882, 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

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	11	1	–	#899
1890s	17	2	+55%	#979
1900s	62	6	+265%	#770
1910s	407	41	+556%	#723
1920s	585	59	+44%	#720
1930s	419	42	-28%	#792
1940s	323	32	-23%	#985
1950s	349	35	+8%	#1,065
1960s	221	22	-37%	#1,402
1970s	173	17	-22%	#1,786
1980s	137	14	-21%	#2,601
1990s	104	10	-24%	#4,824
2000s	69	7	-34%	#6,440
2010s	41	4	-41%	#9,502
2020s (to 2025)	33	6	+34%	#9,395

The story of Rudolf

Rudolf 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 1882, 2,951 American babies have been named Rudolf. Its peak came in 1927, when 82 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 Rudolf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Rudolf?

The median living Rudolf is about 60 years old; half are between 40 and 73. An estimated 1,200 people named Rudolf 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.

Rudolf 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	6	#12,080
2023	6	#11,977
2022	8	#9,668
2021	5	#13,710
2020	8	#9,395
2019	7	#10,592
2018	8	#9,502
2017	8	#9,525
2016	7	#10,523
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	5	#13,686
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	6	#11,913
2009	6	#12,182
2008	8	#9,690
2007	8	#9,593
2006	5	#13,624
2005	10	#7,544
2004	8	#8,766
2003	5	#12,394
2002	11	#6,440
2001	–	–
2000	8	#8,057
1995	8	#6,863
1990	9	#5,727
1985	11	#3,999
1980	19	#2,601
1975	15	#2,733
1970	25	#1,786
1965	22	#1,713
1960	18	#1,964
1955	31	#1,392
1950	41	#1,121
1945	33	#1,159
1940	35	#1,126
1935	34	#1,145
1930	67	#792
1925	55	#913
1920	42	#1,107
1915	65	#748
1910	8	#1,290
1905	5	#1,394
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Rudolf

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

1 Rudolf Hess German Nazi politician (1894–1987) 19th century
2 Rudolf Höss Nazi commandant of Auschwitz (1901–1947) Contemporary
3 Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria Heir to the Austrian throne (1858–1889) 19th century
4 Rudolf Steiner Austrian esotericist (1861–1925) 19th century
5 Rudolf Nureyev Soviet-born ballet dancer (1938–1993) Contemporary
6 Rudolf Abel Soviet intelligence officer (1903–1971) Contemporary
7 Rudolf Diesel German inventor and engineer (1858–1913) 19th century
8 Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor Holy Roman Emperor from 1576 to 1612 1552–1612 · 16th century
9 Rudolf Dassler German cobbler, businessman (1898–1974) 19th century
10 Rudolf I of Germany King of Germany from 1273 to 1291 1218–1291 · Medieval
11 Rudolf Diels First Gestapo chief (1900–1957) Contemporary
12 Rudolf Virchow German doctor and polymath (1821–1902) 19th century
13 Rudolf Carnap German-American philosopher (1891–1970) 19th century
14 Rudolf von Sebottendorf German occultist (1875–1945) 19th century
15 Rudolf Clausius German physicist and mathematician (1822–1888) 19th century
16 Rudolf Bultmann German theologian (1884–1976) 19th century
17 Rudolf Hilferding Austro-German economist, pediatrician, journalist, Marxist theoretician and politician 1877–1941 · 19th century
18 Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria Duke of Austria (1358–1365) 1339–1365 · Medieval
19 Rudolf Otto German theologian, philosopher and comparative religionist (1869–1937) 19th century
20 Rudolf of Rheinfelden Duke of Swabia from 1057 to 1079 1025–1080 · Medieval

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Rudolf?

The median living Rudolf is about 60 years old. Half of all living Rudolfs are between 40 and 73 years old.

How many people named Rudolf are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Rudolf are alive in the United States, based on 2,951 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Rudolf mean?

Borrowed from Czech Rudolf and German Rudolf.

How popular is the name Rudolf in 2025?

Rudolf 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 Rudolf?

2,951 babies have been named Rudolf in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rudolf most popular?

Rudolf peaked in 1927, when 82 newborns received the name.

Is Rudolf a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Rudolf rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Rudolf?

Well-known people named Rudolf include Rudolf Hess (politician), Rudolf Höss (politician), Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria (nobleman).

Names like Rudolf

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

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