Rudi
Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to:
Meaning & Origin of Rudi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Rudi
As a girl name
Rudi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1985, with 15 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1986, when 27 Rudis were born — ranking #3,278 that year. As of 2026, Rudi ranks #7,565 for girls with 14 births, gradually rising (+12%). In total, more than 503 Rudis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Rudi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1931, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1978, when 19 Rudis were born — ranking #2,375 that year. As of 2026, Rudi ranks #9,864 for boys with 7 births, rising sharply (+29% over the past five years). In total, more than 753 Rudis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Rudi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rudi is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rudi
What does the name Rudi mean?
How popular is Rudi in 2026?
When was Rudi most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rudi most popular?
Is Rudi a unisex name?
What names go well with Rudi?
About the name Rudi
Rudi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1931 and has accumulated 753 births in the dataset. Rudi's peak popularity came in 1978 when it ranked #2,375. Use the chart and map above to compare Rudi's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1978 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.