Richard vs Rudolf
Richard and Rudolfcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 1977, Richard was ranked #107 and Rudolf #562 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Richard was ranked #431 and Rudolf #4275 among boys in England and Wales.
Richard and Rudolf over time
Richard and Rudolf appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rudolf in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
Norway · Boys25 shared years, 1945–1977
Richard held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Rudolf in 1.
Highest recorded here: Richard #82 in 1973, Rudolf #220 in 1945.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Richard #107, Rudolf #562.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 2004–2025
Richard held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rudolf in 0.
Highest recorded here: Richard #167 in 2004, Rudolf #3011 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Richard #431, Rudolf #4275.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Richard
Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Richard vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #2014.
Richard · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #431.
Henry · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dylan vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #72 and #431.
Dylan · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Richard | Rudolf |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4275 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Rudolf does not have one recorded yet.
- Richard and Rudolf both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Rudolf doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Rudolf
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #220 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–1977
Highest recorded position: #220 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–1977).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys