UK boy's name
Rudolf
A Germanic name derived from Old High German "rad" meaning "counsel" and "wolf" meaning "wolf.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rudolf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rudolf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 6 births.
This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 2004 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 83% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Rudolf. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rudolf ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 6 boys were registered as Rudolf.
- • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rudolf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2017
6 births
Estimated living
56
2026
Meaning
What does Rudolf mean?
The name Rudolf is of Germanic origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old High German words "hruod" meaning "fame" and "wolf" meaning "wolf." Together, the name Rudolf signifies "famous wolf" or "wolf of renown."
One of the earliest records of the name Rudolf dates back to the 7th century, when a Frankish nobleman named Rudolf von Remiremont was mentioned in historical chronicles. The name gained prominence in the 9th century when Rudolf I became the first King of France from the Carolingian dynasty.
In the 10th century, Rudolf I of Burgundy ruled as the King of Upper Burgundy from 888 to 912 AD. Around the same time, Rudolf II of Burgundy, also known as Rudolf the Bald, was the King of Upper Burgundy from 912 to 937 AD.
The name Rudolf gained widespread recognition in the 13th century with the birth of Rudolf I of Habsburg (1218-1291), who became the King of the Romans and the first Habsburg ruler to preside over the Holy Roman Empire.
Another notable figure in history was Rudolf II (1552-1612), who was the Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, and King of Hungary, known for his patronage of the arts and sciences during the Renaissance period.
In the 19th century, Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902), a German doctor and anthropologist, made significant contributions to the field of pathology and is considered one of the founders of modern pathology.
Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913), a German inventor and mechanical engineer, is famous for his invention of the diesel engine, which revolutionized the transportation industry and continues to be widely used today.
Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993), a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, was one of the most celebrated male ballet dancers of the 20th century and is renowned for his exceptional technique and artistry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rudolf over time
The chart below shows babies named Rudolf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rudolf, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rudolf by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rudolf was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4104 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3997 | 37 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3669 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rudolf
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rudolf: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rudolf in the UK right now?
In 2023, Rudolf was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Rudolf most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 6 babies registered as Rudolf in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rudolf?
A Germanic name derived from Old High German "rad" meaning "counsel" and "wolf" meaning "wolf.".
How many people are called Rudolf in the UK?
A total of 56 babies have been registered as Rudolf across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.