Dudley
Dudley is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Dudda's clearing or woodland meadow.
Origin and history
Dudley is a masculine name of Old English origin, derived from a place name meaning Dudda's clearing. Historically used as a habitational surname and noble title in England, it was later adopted as a given name. In the United States, it was moderately popular in the early to mid-20th century but is now uncommon.
Popularity in the United States
11,868 babies in the United States have been named Dudley since 1880. It ranks #1087 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1877.
States where it is most popular
- LA (15.1 %)
- TX (14.2 %)
- NY (9.9 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- MS (6.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 270 |
| 1890-1900 | 253 |
| 1900-1910 | 312 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,362 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,964 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,856 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,798 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,859 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,039 |
| 1970-1980 | 411 |
| 1980-1990 | 291 |
| 1990-2000 | 199 |
| 2000-2010 | 107 |
| 2010-2019 | 97 |
| 2020-2029 | 50 |
Famous people named Dudley
- Dudley Moore: Actor, Comedian
- Dudley Herschbach: Chemist, Nobel Laureate
Nicknames
Dud
Fun facts
- Dudley has a long history in Britain as a noble title, including the Barons and Earls of Dudley.
- The name gained global familiarity through the fictional character Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter series.