Ralph

“Wolf counsel, from Old English raed (counsel) and wulf (wolf)” — Old English origin

Boy's name · #1046 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Ralph has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #21 (1914) · 414,018 babies named Ralph all-time · 1 in 8,300 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: #96 in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 19 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Ralphs

Ralph Waldo Emerson — American philosopher (1803–1882)
Ralph Fiennes — English actor, director and producer (born 1962)
Ralph Bunche — diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner (1904–1971)
Ralph Steinman — Canadian immunologist and cell biologist (1943–2011)
Ralph Ellison — American novelist, literary critic, scholar and writer (1914-1994)

Among 3,850 notable people named Ralph:

Military figures appear 1.54× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ralph Abercromby, Scottish soldier and politician; (1734-1801).

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