Rudy
Rudy is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Famous wolf.
Origin and history
Rudy originated as a diminutive of Rudolph, which derives from Old High German elements meaning 'famous wolf'. Long established in the United States as both a nickname and a independent standalone given name, it remains consistently used. It carries a friendly, vintage charm while retaining strong historical roots.
Popularity in the United States
50,228 babies in the United States have been named Rudy since 1880. It ranks #511 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #777.
States where it is most popular
- CA (31.8 %)
- TX (26.5 %)
- NY (4.6 %)
- AZ (4.6 %)
- NM (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 23 |
| 1890-1900 | 40 |
| 1900-1910 | 121 |
| 1910-1920 | 728 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,374 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,213 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,785 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,894 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,348 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,926 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,355 |
| 1990-2000 | 5,049 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,828 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,739 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,805 |
Famous people named Rudy
- Rudy Giuliani: Politician, Attorney
- Rudy Gay: Athlete, Basketball player
- Rudy Gobert: Athlete, Basketball player
Fun facts
- While originally a short form of Rudolph, Rudy has been registered as an independent given name for over a century in the U.S.
- The name gained enduring cultural recognition through the iconic 1993 sports film 'Rudy', based on the life of Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger.