Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Rudolf

Rudolf comes from the ancient German “Hrōdwulf”, from the Germanic elements “hrod” meaning “fame” and “wulf” meaning “wolf”. Therefore the name Rudolf means “wolf of renowned” or “famous wolf”. Rudolf was an important name in medieval Germany having been associated with the Hapsburg dynasty starting with the 13th century Rudolf von Habsburg, the first Hapsburg King of the Germans, to the 19th century Archduke Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary and heir to the Emperorship. So the powerful European Hapsburg monarchy basically started and ended with a Rudolf. This is because the Prince never assumed the Emperor role for which he had been groomed his whole life. Instead, at the age of 30, Rudolf died under mysterious circumstances in an apparent murder-suicide pact with his 17 year old mistress (an event which made international headlines). Because Rudolf’s father, Emperor Franz Joseph I, only had one son (i.e., Prince Rudolf), the next in line to the throne was the Emperor’s brother who renounced his succession which passed on to his own son, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Rudolf’s cousin). Franz Ferdinand’s assassination in 1914 would set in motion World War I and, as they say, the rest is Hapsburg history. Rudolf is the spelling used by German, but it is also the traditional version used among the Scandinavians and Slavic people.

All About the Baby Name – Rudolf

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME RUDOLF

The number Four personality is marked by stability and discipline. This is the personality that follows the rules and is conservative by nature.  They have an earth-bound energy that prefers to build things methodically on top of firm foundations; they don't cut corners. Fours take their time and don't like to be hurried. But the outcome of their endeavors is likely to result in some strong and useful structure, which makes them great engineers and inventors. Fours are anything but frivolous or controversial. This is a trustworthy, straight-forward personality that embodies dedication and organization. They are the backbone and anchor in their relationships, careers and communities. They are tidy, punctual, and full of integrity. Hard-work comes naturally to a Four and they are immensely reliable. This is the personality you can always count on.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME RUDOLF

Rudolf's history of usage in America is pretty brief. This version of the name was most likely brought to the United States by 19th century German settlers and used with fairly low frequency. Rudolf finally fell off the American male naming charts (seemingly permanently) in 1941. The English speaking population has typically preferred the Rudolph spelling with the "ph".

Quick Facts

ON RUDOLF

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

German

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

N/A

PRONUNCIATION:

RUE-dawlf; RUW-dawlf

SIMPLE MEANING:

Famous wolf

Characteristics

OF RUDOLF

Dependable

Solid

Practical

Hard-working

Industrious

Studious

Conservative

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Rudolf

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME RUDOLF

Rudolf Rassendyll is the red-haired hero of Anthony Hope Hawkins’ 1894 novel, The Prisoner of Zenda, which was enormously successful as an early example of the “swashbuckling” genre, and was adapted into a stage play as well as several successful films. Rudolph is an English aristocrat who travels to “Ruritania” on holiday and just happens to becomes involved in a dastardly plot. The king, Rudolf Elfberg , is a victim of his brother’s plot to usurp the throne. Because the two Rudolfs look amazingly alike, our Rudolf is recruited by the king’s loyalists to take his place at the coronation while the king goes into hiding. The king’s evil brother, however, finds him and locks him up in the dungeon of Zenda Castle. In the meantime, the rather indolent Rudolf Rassendyll is having quite a good time. Oh, he does wish to free the real king, of course, but he also just happens to fall in love with the king’s fiancé, Princess Flavia, who is unaware of the switch. Well, honor takes the day, we are happy to report. Rudolf rescues Rudolf and returns Flavia to her rightful, um, suitor, and everyone goes home happy. Particularly Anthony Hope Hawkins, who quit his boring law practice to write full time.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME RUDOLF

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Rudolf


Popular Songs

ON RUDOLF

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Rudolf


Famous People

NAMED RUDOLF

We cannot find any famous people with the first name Rudolf.

Children of Famous People

NAMED RUDOLF

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Rudolf

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME RUDOLF

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Rudolf