The first name Ralph
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ˈɹælf/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Middle English Radulf, from Old English Rǣdwulf (also as Raulf), from Proto-West Germanic *Rādawulf, from Proto-Germanic *Rēdawulfaz. Reinforced by similar forms brought to England, e.g. Old Norse Ráðúlfr, then in the Norman form Old French Radulf, Radulph. For the sense relating to vomiting, see ralph.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 541 boys were named Ralph, making it the 96th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2019, with 748 births (#81).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ralph with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ralph at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 211 boys born in the United States were named Ralph, the 1,048th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 8,860 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Ralph in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Ralph
216 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Ralph Waldo EmersonAmerican philosopher (1803–1882)
- Ralph FiennesEnglish actor, director and producer (born 1962)
- Ralph BuncheDiplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize, 1904–1971
- Ralph SteinmanCanadian immunologist and cell biologist (1943–2011)
- Ralphie MayAmerican stand-up comedian, 1972–2017
- Ralph LaurenAmerican fashion designer (born 1939)
- Ralph EllisonAmerican novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer (1914-1994)
- Ralph NaderAmerican lawyer and activist (born 1934)
- Ralph Vaughan WilliamsEnglish composer (1872-1958)
- Ralph RichardsonBritish actor (1902–1983)
- Ralph WaiteAmerican actor (1928–2014)
- Ralph MacchioAmerican actor (born 1961)
Questions
- What does the name Ralph mean?
- From Middle English Radulf, from Old English Rǣdwulf (also as Raulf), from Proto-West Germanic *Rādawulf, from Proto-Germanic *Rēdawulfaz. Reinforced by similar forms brought to England, e.g. Old Norse Ráðúlfr, then in the Norman form Old French Radulf, Radulph. For the sense…
- How popular is the name Ralph?
- In 2025, 541 boys born in England and Wales were named Ralph, ranking 96th. Its peak was 2019, with 748 births.
- What are nicknames for Ralph?
- Common nicknames for Ralph include Ralphie.
- Is Ralph a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 415,858 US babies named Ralph since 1880 were boys.
- When was Ralph most popular?
- 1921 in the United States, when 8,860 babies were named Ralph, its highest rank at 23rd.
- How do you pronounce Ralph?
- Ralph is /ˈɹælf/, one syllable.
- What are other spellings of Ralph?
- Rawle.
- Is Ralph also a surname?
- Yes. Ralph is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.