Ralph

Meaning: Wolf counsel
Origin: Germanic — From the Old English name Rædwulf and the Old Norse Ráðúlfr

Nicknames: Ralphie

Boy's name · #1048 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Ralph belongs to an older America first — it reached #21 back in 1914 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1048. About 414,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Ralph is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 19 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Ralph ranks in other countries and regions.

#96 in England & Wales (2025) · #110 in Belgium (2025) · #134 in Sweden (2025) · #270 in N. Ireland (2025) · #278 in Scotland (2025) · #332 in Netherlands (2025) · #372 in Ireland (2025) · #1,167 in Canada (2025) · #2,536 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,915 in France (2025) · #3,152 in Austria (2025) · #6,425 in Ecuador (2025) and 5 more.

Famous Ralphs

Ralph Waldo Emerson — American philosopher (1803–1882)
Ralph Fiennes — English actor and director (born 1962)
Ralph Bunche — Diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner (1904–1971)
Ralph Steinman — Canadian immunologist and cell biologist (1943–2011)
Ralph Ellison — American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer (1913–1994)
Ralph Lauren — American fashion designer (born 1939)
Ralph Macchio — American actor (born 1961)
Ralph Nader — American lawyer and activist (born 1934)
Ralph Waite — American actor (1928–2014)
Ralph Bakshi — American animator and filmmaker (born 1938)

In stories & tradition

Ralph Wiggum — Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise
Ralph (Elongated Man) — Fictional character in DC Comics
Ralph Cifaretto — The Sopranos (TV series)

What Ralphs become

Among 3,851 notable people named Ralph:

Military figures appear 1.54× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ralph Abercromby, British Army officer, politician and colonial administrator (1734–1801).

Similar names: Rafe · Harold · Ray · Howard · Ronnie · Randy

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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