Boy name · Old Norse
Ralph
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: counsel wolfRalph is a boy's name that comes from Old Norse and means "counsel wolf". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Counsel wolf
- Origin
- Old Norse
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- RALF
Meaning and origin of Ralph
As a boy's name, Ralph comes from Old Norse and means "counsel wolf". It is used in English.
Say it RALF. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Ralph is also a surname: the 4,437th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 7,753 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ralph on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ralph on 6 lists.
“Basically the sound he makes when he barks”
From Boy dog names, human names for boy dogs
“Counsel wolf; Old Norse. Say RALF, or RAFE in Britain”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“Counsel and wolf; Norse and Norman. Written Radulfus in the Domesday Book”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval male names from England and France
“Counsel wolf; from Old Norse Ráðúlfr. Say RALF, or RAYF in some British families”
From Names that mean wolf, boy names that mean wolf
“Counsel wolf; Old Norse. Say RALF; some British families say RAYF”
From Old man names, old boy names from the 1900s to 1920s
“From Old Norse and Old German words for counsel and wolf, for a hearty tom”
From Orange cat names, orange cat names for boys
How popular is Ralph?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,048
- 211 babies, 124 per million boys
- Best rank
- #21 in 1914
- Most babies: 8,860 in 1921
- Babies since 1880
- At least 414,018
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 3,897 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6,092 per million |
| 1900s | 6,849 per million |
| 1910s | 7,868 per million |
| 1920s | 7,665 per million |
| 1930s | 6,038 per million |
| 1940s | 4,365 per million |
| 1950s | 2,990 per million |
| 1960s | 1,775 per million |
| 1970s | 893 per million |
| 1980s | 433 per million |
| 1990s | 230 per million |
| 2000s | 139 per million |
| 2010s | 105 per million |
| 2020s | 107 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #996 | #1,070 | #950 | #1,026 | #1,102 | #1,111 | #1,141 | #1,196 | #1,148 | #1,048 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Ralph
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- RaoulCounsel wolf (Old Norse, boy)
Names spelled like Ralph
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- RalfCounsel wolf (Germanic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- KonradBold counsel (Germanic, boy)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- ConanLittle hound or little wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ConradBold counsel (Germanic, boy)
- FaolánLittle wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- IngolfIng's wolf (Old Norse, boy)
- PhelanLittle wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RadegundCounsel and war (Germanic, girl)
- RaghnallCounsel ruler (Old Norse, boy)
Middle names for Ralph
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old Norse
- ErikEternal ruler (Old Norse, boy)
- SvenBoy, young man (Old Norse, boy)
- BjörnA bear (Old Norse, boy)
- HaraldArmy ruler (Old Norse, boy)
- HolgerIsland spear (Old Norse, boy)
- IvorYew warrior (Old Norse, boy)
- OdinFrenzy, inspiration (Old Norse, boy)
- RonaldCounsel ruler (Old Norse, boy)
- SigmundVictory protection (Old Norse, boy)
- SweynBoy, young man (Old Norse, boy)
Ralph: common questions
What does the name Ralph mean?
Ralph comes from Old Norse and means "counsel wolf".
Is Ralph a boy or girl name?
Ralph is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Ralph come from?
Ralph comes from Old Norse and means "counsel wolf". Today it is used in English.
How do you pronounce Ralph?
Say RALF. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Ralph?
Ralph ranked #1,048 in the US in 2025, with 211 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Ralph?
Forms of Ralph with the same meaning and origin include Raoul (French).
What middle names go with Ralph?
Middle names that flow well with Ralph include Abraham, Alexander, Cyprian, Eugene and Everett. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.