With his mix of indie cool and athletic can-do, why isn’t this name faring better?
Thanks to Liliane for suggesting Rudy as Baby Name of the Day.
It would takes guts for modern parents to revive the classic Germanic Rudolph for a son today, knowing that he’d hear about Santa’s sleigh on a daily basis from kindergarten through college.
But Rudolph is a classic, worn the world over, by artists, scientists and royalty. Plus, the name actually refers to wolves, from the final element – wulf – not deer.
Rudolph was once a Top 200 staple in the US. As an independent name, Rudy was rare until singer/actor/bandleader Rudy Vallée became a star in the late 1920s. Born Hubert, he’s considered the first crooner, paving the way for Sinatra and company. He was also a huge star and by 1929, he was also appearing on the big screen. “As Times Goes By,” later made famous by Casablanca, was his last hit.
The singer’s fame propelled the name into wider use, though it was already gaining. In 1925, Rudy ranked #416. By 1926, he’d climbed to #299.
The 1993 biopic Rudy told the real life tale of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, an ordinary Joe who made it all the way to the University of Notre Dame’s football team on nothing but sheer determination. Sean Astin – before he was a Hobbit – portrayed the too-small Rudy who plays just one game for the Fightin’ Irish – but manages to sack the quarterback and get carried off the field by his teammates. It’s considered one of the greatest sports movies of all time.
Rudy Guiliani was born Rudolph, and it didn’t stop him from serving as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001. Neither Guiliani’s popularity nor the sports legend upped the use of Rudy. He’s been fading since the 1940s.
Could it be blamed on slang? By the time The Clash released “Rudie Can’t Fail” and The Specials released “A Message to You, Rudy” in 1979, the term rudeboy had been in use for two decades. Initially used to refer to juvenile delinquents in Jamaica, it evolved to refer to followers of ska music. It lends Rudy an indie edge, but maybe it’s tough to overlook the similarity to the word rude – and the implied affection for pork pie hats.
The most famous Rudy in the late 1980s was television’s Rudy Huxtable, the youngest child of Cliff and Clair on smash hit The Cosby Show. Her given name was Rudith. Rumor has it that Rudy was supposed to be a boy, but Keshia Knight Pullman’s audition changed everything, and the role was rewritten.
Ruby is popular for girls and Jude is climbing for boys, but Rudy ranked just #728 in 2009, and seems headed for obscurity. Jude Law’s youngest son answers to Rudy, and names like Cody, Colby, and Jacoby have been current for boys.
Rudy makes for an intriguing option – offbeat, somewhere between the classic Robert and the fleeting Rogue, and falling out of use at a time when similar names are soaring.
Alli says
March 5, 2012 at 10:24 PMI have no idea why this name is so rare, it is adorable and screams innocence. The girls name The name Ruby has become so popular and Rudy is very similar. BUT I don’t like the name Rudolph, just because the ending reminds me of Hitler and I think kids might become mean because of the Reindeer song. The name Ruettiger is very adorable too. If anyone is on the fence for picking this name – don’t be, it is perfect!!
Kelly Beth says
August 9, 2010 at 12:52 PMMy dog is named Rudy — full name Rudolph for his deer-like looks. And I think it’s a great name: energetic, charming and retro. Baby boy Rudy would for sure sport a tiny fedora.
For an even more indie twist, we sing to him “Rudy Rudy Rudy Rudy! Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!” to the tune of the Kaiser Chiefs’ “Ruby” all the time.
Andre says
August 9, 2010 at 11:14 AMRudy is nice, much better than Rudolph the deer…
And no, Rudy on a girl is crap and tacky. Nothing wrong with boy names ending in y, in fact, they sound much better on boys than girls, who end up as strippers…
Bek says
August 7, 2010 at 7:55 PMRudy! Rudy! Rudy!
Sorry, I just have to yell that every time I hear the name. I guess as a given name, it leaves me feeling a bit “meh”. So put me in the ambivalent camp.
Elizabeth says
August 7, 2010 at 6:45 AMI know of one young sibset, Lola and Rudy. Quite kitschy cool.
Emmy Jo says
August 7, 2010 at 12:44 AMI could actually see Rudy being revived for girls before it becomes a popular boys’ option again. And though it’s not my usual style, it would be kind of cute on a girl. I suggested it on Yahoo! Answers a couple weeks ago for someone who was looking for uncommon unisex names for her daughter.
Nicole says
August 6, 2010 at 9:18 PMI’ve gotta say, I prefer Rudolph to Rudy but I’m not crazy about either, really. My family is crazy about not naming children things that sound like nn’s for something else. A distant cousin nearly wiped out all of the older women in my family by naming his son Charlie instead of Charles. Either way, I do like Rudolph a bit more.
Lady Gwyn says
August 6, 2010 at 9:12 PMMy brother’s middle name is Rudolph as a tribute to our great grand-father, who is German by birth. He (my great-grandfather) was known a Rudy, but his given name was Rudolph. My brother has been made fun of for 23 years because of his middle name, so even though it was a family name, I would hesitate to use it for that reason. That, and if anyone gets to use it, should be my brother! 🙂
appellationmountain says
August 7, 2010 at 8:06 AMLOL! The funny thing is that I’ve seen LOTS of men pass down names that they don’t love. Tradition trumps style, I think.
CJ says
March 5, 2012 at 10:26 PMSo sad how mean people can be. I love this name!!!
Charlotte Vera says
August 6, 2010 at 4:45 PMI like Rudy, and actually rather enjoy Rudolph too. My first introduction to the name Rudy came to me via James Ramsey Ullman’s Banner in the Sky — I sobbed as a teenager over Rudi’s struggles while reading the novel.
Given that Rudy is Mark’s favourite movie, I can see him being all gung-ho for using at a name for one of our own offspring. But yes, as much as I like it, I am thrown by the “rude” associations.
JNE says
August 6, 2010 at 3:49 PMI actually prefer Rudolph to Rudy! That said, I can’t quite imagine using it… unless maybe the baby arrives on Xmas day or something! Rudy on a boy makes me think of the movie first. Not a bad thing, but I am not enamored with it.
Julie says
August 6, 2010 at 3:27 PMMy husband’s middle name is Rudolf, he hates it enough that he pretends that he doesn’t have a middle name… needless to say, we won’t be carrying on the name.
Cleo says
August 6, 2010 at 12:28 PMI was gonna be called this if I was a boy!
caroline says
August 6, 2010 at 10:49 AMI know a 3 yr old Rudy, but he is a namesake. I don’t really like the name much myself, but I tend to not favor boys’ names ending in -y.