Rudolph
Boy name · #4140 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rudolph? In official American birth records, Rudolph has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Rudolph is currently the #4140 boy name in the United States — 25 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2864, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 72,000 boys born in 2025 was named Rudolph.
Babies named Rudolph per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Rudolph first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 54 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 1,690 boys were named Rudolph — good for #110 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rudolph against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rudolph in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rudolph is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rudolph will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rudolph is most common
State-level data for Rudolph is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Rudolph
Statistically, parents drawn to Rudolph tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ralph, Russel, Earnest, Rufus, and Wilfred.
RalphRusselEarnestRufusWilfredHerbertHubertRueben
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rudolph | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #4139 |
| 2024 | 34 | #3394 |
| 2023 | 22 | #4610 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 31 | #3582 |
| 2020 | 28 | #3734 |
| 2019 | 41 | #2943 |
| 2018 | 34 | #3301 |
| 2017 | 40 | #2951 |
| 2016 | 34 | #3293 |
| 2015 | 41 | #2864 |
| 2014 | 47 | #2582 |
| 2013 | 36 | #3060 |
| 2012 | 43 | #2772 |
| 2011 | 44 | #2699 |
| 2010 | 32 | #3377 |
| 2009 | 35 | #3223 |
| 2008 | 54 | #2374 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2684 |
| 2006 | 50 | #2449 |
| 2005 | 58 | #2114 |
| 2004 | 59 | #2024 |
| 2003 | 65 | #1815 |
| 2002 | 69 | #1694 |
| 2001 | 82 | #1481 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rudolph?
In official American birth records, the name Rudolph first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 54 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Rudolph a popular boy name?
Rudolph ranked #4140 among boys in 2025 with 25 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2864.
When was the name Rudolph most popular?
Rudolph peaked in 1927, when 1,690 American boys received the name (ranked #110 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rudolph?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 72,000 newborn American boys was named Rudolph. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.