Rupert
Rupert is an English truncation of Latin Rupertus, which derives from Old High German Hruodoperht/Hruodoberht which are also the source of the name Robert. Thus, "Rupert" and "Robert" are different modern forms of the same name. The Old High German form of the name evolved from Germanic Hrothi, "fame, glory, renown, honour, godlike" + Berht, "bright"; thus, Rupert and Robert mean "fame bright".
- German
- English
Meaning & Origin of Rupert
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rupert is an English truncation of Latin Rupertus, which derives from Old High German Hruodoperht/Hruodoberht which are also the source of the name Robert. Thus, "Rupert" and "Robert" are different modern forms of the same name. The Old High German form of the name evolved from Germanic Hrothi, "fame, glory, renown, honour, godlike" + Berht, "bright"; thus, Rupert and Robert mean "fame bright".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- German
- English
The Story of Rupert
The earliest SSA record of Rupert as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 6 babies received it. 1920 was its biggest year on record, with 156 newborns named Rupert — #487 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 21% of all recorded Ruperts. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,963 among baby boy names with 28 births, gradually rising (+14%). In total, more than 6K Ruperts have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rupert
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rupert. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Ruprecht
Names that sound like Rupert
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rupert 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 Rupert
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About the name Rupert
Rupert is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Rupert's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #402. Use the chart and map above to compare Rupert's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1920 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.