Ralph

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Wolf Counsel

Background: The name Ralph originates from the Old High German name Rāwolf, composed of the elements 'rā' meaning 'wolf' and 'wolf' meaning 'counsel.' This name was adopted into English, retaining its original meaning.

At a glance

Quick stats based on the history of this name.

Lifetime rank
#81
Total births
415,639
Most popular decade
1920s (254,856 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-107 ranks)
Years in Top 100
84
First recorded year
1880

Gender usage

99.6% male 0.4% female

Stats by gender

Male

First year
1880
First year births
317
First year rank
#54
Peak year
1921
Peak year births
8,860
Peak rank
#23
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
182
Recent rank
#1,147

Female

First year
1884
First year births
5
First year rank
#1,024
Peak year
1927
Peak year births
59
Peak rank
#990
Most recent year
1990
Recent year births
5
Recent rank
#12,959

Births over time

Number of babies given this name each year.

Rank over time

Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).

Related links