Raoul
Raoul is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Wolf counsel or wise wolf.
Origin and history
Raoul is the French form of the Germanic name Radulf, composed of elements meaning counsel and wolf. Though historically prominent in Europe, it has remained a relatively rare choice in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
2,915 babies in the United States have been named Raoul since 1880. It ranks #2394 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1894.
States where it is most popular
- CA (42.5 %)
- NY (18.5 %)
- ME (13.6 %)
- MA (13.1 %)
- LA (8.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7 |
| 1890-1900 | 26 |
| 1900-1910 | 29 |
| 1910-1920 | 289 |
| 1920-1930 | 414 |
| 1930-1940 | 364 |
| 1940-1950 | 298 |
| 1950-1960 | 371 |
| 1960-1970 | 307 |
| 1970-1980 | 276 |
| 1980-1990 | 183 |
| 1990-2000 | 152 |
| 2000-2010 | 97 |
| 2010-2019 | 69 |
| 2020-2029 | 33 |
Famous people named Raoul
- Raoul Dufy: Painter, Illustrator
- Raoul Wallenberg: Diplomat, Humanitarian
- Raoul Bova: Actor
Fun facts
- Raoul derives from the Old Norse and Germanic elements 'rad' (counsel) and 'ulfr' (wolf).
- It served as a classic French name borne by royalty, including King Raoul of France in the 10th century.