He’s been worn by princes, saints, and one unmistakable red-headed actor.
Thanks to Fran for suggesting Rupert as Baby Name of the Day.
Name aficionados will recognize Rupert as an older version of the classic Robert, derived from the Germanic elements hrod – fame – and beraht or peraht – bright. You can find the pieces smooshed together in various forms over the years; Hruodperht looks the closest to Rupert, but spellings abound.
A seventh century saint and reformer wore the name. He’s considered the founder of Salzburg.
Rupert first appears in his modern form around the 1300s. Ruprecht I became Count Palatine of the Rhine in 1353, and founded the University of Heidelberg in his spare time. His nephew inherited his title; the nephew’s son became Rupert III in 1398, and two years later was elected King of Germany.
The trio of Ruperts explains how the name entered into broader use amongst the many German aristocrats, but it doesn’t answer this riddle: why does Rupert conjure up images of high tea and tweed, the quintessential British name?
In the 1600s, one of those Germanic Ruperts – Prince Rupert of the Rhine – made waves in England. Born during the tumultuous Thirty Years’ War, the prince watched his parents lose their lands. He grew up a refugee, but one with friends in high places – his uncle was Charles I of England. After the death of Rupert’s father, Charles extended his protection to the family. Rupert repaid his uncle’s generosity as a Royalist commander during the English Civil War. His dashing image became synonymous with the term cavalier.
Parents today might think first of Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch – born Keith Rupert Murdoch. But there’s also:
- Poet Rupert Brooke, known for his World War I-inspired sonnets;
- Actors Rupert Everett – he’s the voice of Prince Charming in the Shrek franchise, as well as veteran actor Rupert Graves;
- Since 1920, Rupert Bear has been a staple in British newspapers, where the animated ursine’s adventures have been handed down from one animator to another over the decades. Book collections and television adaptations have appeared, too. On a slightly less innocent note, Rupert is also the name of Stewie’s teddy bear on Family Guy.
In the US, Rupert was never popular. But he was steadily in use from the late nineteenth century into the early 1900s, slowly falling out of use. By the mid-1950s, he had disappeared from the US Top 1000.
These days, though, a future generation of parents is very familiar with Rupert, thanks to one red-headed teenaged actor. Rupert Grint graduated from school plays to the big time when he was cast as Ron Weasley for 2001’s adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. That’s the actor pictured above, at a movie premiere, somewhere after his first year at Hogwarts but before the last installment.
Rupert is not quite as hipster as Rufus, but he shares the first syllable. And in an era when many parents prefer nickname-free choices, Rupert’s lack of an easy short form isn’t necessarily a problem. Rupert makes an intriguing option for an Anglophile, or for anyone looking to reboot Robert.
I remembered another association – the guy from the 2003 Survivor: https://www.rupertrupert.com/
That’s right! I’d forgotten about him.
I’ll have to be the voice of dissent and say I find Rupert horribly poncey-sounding. Try as I might, I can’t find anything appealing about it. There are some names with a similar vibe that I do like, but this one strikes me as more dorky than debonair.
I do think that Americans expect Rupert to be British or Australian or … something other than American.
I think the sound is somewhat off-putting to me too. I prefer Rufus – though that one does sound a little dog-like to me.
I asked my husband if we can name this next baby Rupert and he’s like “Errr, no!” I wouldn’t really do it with already having a Rose and then Henry’s middle name is Robert.
The name does bring the bear to mind for me, from my British childhood.
It’s the sound of Rupert that I dislike. Rupe-Ert. Rue-pert.
Just a coincidence, but I watched Young Victoria last night and Rupert Friend is the actor playing Prince Albert. That’s coloring my perception of the name, but it seems so British costume drama and not the name of an American child. Obviously there are children named Rupert, but I’ve never personally known anyone (of any age) with the name. I like the idea of Rupert, but I probably wouldn’t use it…
I’m quite fond of Rupert and have been for a while. I cherish memories of watching cartoons of the bear for a short while when little, and have always found the name to contain an appeal that the more well-known Robert lacks. However, I’m not sure that I have the nerve to pull it off — plus I’m pretty certain that Mark would say nay.
I love Rupert! I think he’d make an awesome little brother for my other kids but the other half is just not into him (funny, because Rufus came from him, originally).
I think Rupert is handsome, quite dashing and just fun to say without being silly sounding (like Zebedee). Why do I think Rip is a traditional nickname for Rupert? Time for me to go look that up, I really like him and think I should suggest him again!
Traditional or not, Rip could work! But it is sort of like Dash from Dashiell – you’d have to be the right kind of kid to pull it off.
thanks for covering this name! its one that has been on my backup list for a while, but we keep having girls! i think i love it because it fits our vintage/royalty/british theme we have going on and rupert would make a great little brother to the rest of my brood!
Vintage/royalty/British is my favourite theme too! 🙂
Though I must admit to never really considering Rupert before.
Rupert would fit in nicely with your girls, Fran!