Rudy
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Rudy
Rudy is one of those names that has been consistently in the US Top 1000 since the early 20th century without ever becoming overwhelmingly popular. It peaked back in the 1930s, when it briefly entered the Top 250, though more recent years have seen it make the latter end of the charts. Certainly more stylish than its parent name, Rudolph, which has been relegated to reindeers in English speaking countries, Rudy was given to 300 boys in a recent year.
Rudy for boys#739 US
Currently on the rise in England and Wales, Rudy ultimately comes from the Germanic Hrodulf meaning "famous wolf". It has notably appeared in the 1993 sports movie, Rudy, though it may be recognized more recently as the name of the dinosaur in the third Ice Age movie and in the book and film adaptation of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
The Crosby Show), it was notably used by actor Jude Law and actress Sadie Frost for their son in 2002, which led to its first appearance on the England and Wales charts the following year. More recently, it was chosen by Molly Moorish-Gallagher (daughter of the Oasis star, Liam) and footballer Nat Phillips for their son in 2025.
Rudy for girls#4334 US
Rudy hasn't yet enjoyed the comeback of cousin name Ruby, despite having been chosen by hip couple Sadie Frost and Jude Law, but it still could happen.
Rudy has a lot going for it as a usable-on-its-own nickname name, with the lively 'oo' sound found in Jude and Juno and all the popular Lu-starting names. And it was a heartthrob name back in the day when crooner Rudy (born Hubert) Vallee and Rudy/Rudolph (born Rodolpho) Valentino had ladies swooning, reaching as high as Number 299 in 1926.
It has most often been seen as an all-male name--except for little Rudy on The Cosby Show.
Pronounced ROO-dee.
As of October 2026, Rudy ranked #739 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #235 in 1947, Nameberry popularity #298.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #862 | 257 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #846 | 266 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #861 | 262 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #875 | 246 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #823 | 272 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #865 | 257 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #851 | 268 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #822 | 291 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #843 | 289 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #830 | 296 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #822 | 303 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #739 | 354 | #4,334 | 33 |
World rankings
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Rudy on lists
Famous Rudys
- Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" GiulianiBoy
American politician, former New York City mayor
- Daniel Eugene "Rudy" RuettigerBoy
American college football player and subject of movie "Rudy"
- Rudolph "Rudy" Cornelius WiedoeftBoy
American saxophonist
- Hubert Prior "Rudy" ValléeBoy
American singer/actor (renamed himself after Rudy Wiedoeft)
- Rudy GatlinBoy
singer in American country music group The Gatlin Brothers
- Rudy SarzoBoy
Cuban hard rock bassist for Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne
- Rudy Kay (born JeanBoy
Louis Cormier), Canadian professional wrestler
- Rudy Carlton Gay Jr.Boy
American basketball player
- Preston Rudolph "Rudy" YorkBoy
American baseball player
- Carlos Wilson "Rudy" Cachicote da RochaBoy
Angolan footballer
- Rudy LawBoy
son of actors Jude Law and Sadie Frost
- Rudy PankowBoy
American actor
- Rudy Hazel Blake (b. 2017)Girl
daughter of Hamish Blake and Zoë Foster Blake
Rudy in pop culture
- Rudy SteinerBoy
character in Markus Zuzak's "The Book Thief"
- Rudy LomBoy
character on TV's "Almost Human"
- Rudy WadeBoy
character on British TV series "Misfits"
- RudyBoy
character on the "Pokemon" TV series
- RudyBoy
dinosaur in "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs"
- RudyBoy
clone on the TV show ''Orphan Black''
- Daniel "Rudy" RuettigerBoy
main character in the film Rudy
- Rudolph 'Rudy' StieblitzBoy
character in "Bob's Burgers"
- Rudith Lillian "Rudy" HuxtableGirl
"The Cosby Show" TV daughter
- Rudy SteinerGirl
a character from The Book Thief
- RudyGirl
name of the dinasour in "Ice age: Dawn of the dinasours"