How Many People Are Named Rudolph?
Complete statistics for the name Rudolph: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Rudolph is a classic Germanic name meaning famous wolf, with roots stretching back to medieval Europe. About 17,504 Rudolphs are living in the US today, making it quite rare at 1 in 18,852 Americans. The name had its golden era nearly a century ago, and the average Rudolph alive today is 87 years old.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 4 is traditionally associated with discipline, hard work, and building solid foundations. People linked to 4 are seen as practical and dependable, the kind who get things done through steady effort rather than shortcuts.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 87All 53,556 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1927Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Rudolph Through the Generations
Rudolph peaked in 1927 with 1,700 births in a single year, which tells you a lot about where this name belongs in history. Of the 53,556 born in the US across all time, only 17,504 are estimated to be living today, a gap that reflects just how long ago most Rudolphs were born. That average age of 87 says it all. A striking 87% of living Rudolphs are over 60, and the age breakdown makes this concrete: 46,327 fall into that over-60 group, compared to just 1,357 under 30. This isn't a name making a comeback. It's slowly declining, with very few parents choosing it for newborns today. The small under-30 count suggests it hasn't caught the vintage revival wave that some old-school names have enjoyed. Rudolph feels frozen in a specific era, and the numbers back that up completely.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Rudolph's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Rudolph
How Many People Have the Name Rudolph?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 18,807 people in the United States currently share the name Rudolph. That works out to roughly 1 in every 17,624 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Rudolph a Common or Rare Name?
Rudolph is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Rudolph Mean?
Rudolph means "Famous wolf, glorious ruler" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Rudolph in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Rudolph Most Popular?
The name Rudolph reached peak popularity in 1927, with 1,700 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Rudolph?
Approximately 18,807 people named Rudolph live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 18,807. That works out to roughly 1 in 17,624 Americans.
Is Rudolph a rare name?
Rudolph is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 17,624 Americans has this name.
What does the name Rudolph mean?
Rudolph means "Famous wolf, glorious ruler" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Rudolph more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Rudolph are male and 0% are female.
When was Rudolph most popular?
Rudolph peaked in 1927 with 1,700 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.