Holding steady.
Popularity of Randolf since 1939
Babies named Randolf per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 9 |
| 1940s | 100 |
| 1950s | 423 |
| 1960s | 195 |
| 1970s | 112 |
| 1980s | 87 |
| 1990s | 38 |
| 2000s | 8 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Randolf is a rare masculine name with Old Norse roots, meaning 'wolf shield'. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1939, but usage has been minimal, with no recorded births in recent years (2025 data shows zero). Its peak usage came in 1955, though even then it remained uncommon. The name has never ranked in the top 1000. Randolf is a variant of the more familiar Randolph, which itself saw modest mid-century popularity. The trajectory of Randolf is stable but extremely low, making it a true rarity. No top states have recorded significant usage for this name.
Randolf is a variant of Randolph, derived from the Old Norse name Rannúlfr, composed of 'rand' (shield) and 'ulfr' (wolf). It was introduced to England by Scandinavian settlers and became established in the Middle Ages, later anglicized as Randolph. The spelling Randolf is a less common variant that occasionally appears in English-speaking countries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Randy, Dolf, Rann
Sibling names for Randolf
Names that share Randolf's style, for a brother or sister.
