Rudolph is a masculine given name of German origin that has been used in various cultures throughout history. The name is derived from the Old High German words "Hrodulf" or "Hrōðwulf," which are composed of the elements "hrod" meaning "fame" or "renown," and "wulf" meaning "wolf." Therefore, the name Rudolph signifies "famous wolf."
The name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous is Saint Rudolph of Austria (also known as Saint Rudolph the Penitent), who was a 13th-century nobleman from the House of Habsburg. After experiencing a vision of hell, he became a Franciscan monk and dedicated his life to prayer and penance. He is now the patron saint of Austria.
Another notable figure with the name Rudolph is Rudolph Valentino, an Italian-American actor known as one of the most popular film stars of the 1920s. Born on May 6, 1895, in Castellaneta, Italy, Valentino was a leading man and sex symbol who starred in silent films such as "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921), "The Sheik" (1921), and "Blood and Sand" (1922). His sudden death at the age of 31 in 1926 led to mass hysteria among his female fans, with thousands attending his funeral procession.
In literature, Rudolph is also the name of the protagonist in J.D. Salinger's short story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish," published in The New Yorker in 1948. This story is part of Salinger's collection Nine Stories and is renowned for its ambiguous and enigmatic ending.
Despite being a name with German origins, Rudolph has been used in various cultures throughout history, including France, Scandinavia, and even the United States. Today, it remains a popular choice among parents looking for a distinctive and meaningful name for their sons. While it may have some associations with Christmas due to the character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the name Rudolph has a rich history and significance that extends far beyond holiday celebrations.
The statistics provided show the annual births of the name Rudolph in the United States between 1914 and 2018. Over this period, there were a total of 197 babies named Rudolph born.
From 1914 to 1934, the popularity of the name Rudolph fluctuated. The highest number of births occurred in 1928 with 17 births. However, by 1932 and 1933, there were only 5 and 6 births respectively.
The popularity of the name Rudolph continued to decline throughout the mid-century period. Between 1940 and 1951, there were fewer than 8 births each year. It wasn't until 1955 that the number of births began to increase again, with 7 babies named Rudolph born that year.
After a brief dip in popularity during the early 1970s, with only 5 births in 1973 and 6 in 1974, the name Rudolph has not been recorded as being given to any newborns in the United States since then. This suggests that the name Rudolph may have fallen out of favor as a popular choice for baby boys during this time period.
Despite its decline in popularity, it's worth noting that over the course of nearly 105 years, the name Rudolph has been given to at least one child each year on average, demonstrating that there is still some enduring appeal to this classic name.