Total births
761
Unisex name · since 1931
Rudi
Rudi has 761 recorded births since 1931 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1978 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #10037
- among boys today
- 761
- born since 1931
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Rudi currently ranks #10037 among unisex names in America, with 761 babies recorded since 1931.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rudi has been recorded 761 times among boys since 1931, currently ranked #10037 nationally and more common than 30% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1931 to 2025.
- #10037 among boys today
- 761 born since 1931
- 1980s peak decade
- 30% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rudi is currently the #10037 unisex name in America, more common than 30% of boys - 761 born since 1931, peaking in the 1980s.
- #10037
- among boys today
- 761
- born since 1931
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Rudi vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#10037
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 30% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Rudi was born in this single decade.
1978
Single peak year
19 babies were named Rudi in 1978 - its busiest year on record.
How Rudi compares
761 Top 35% higher than 65% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Rudi's all-time total is 107% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rudi | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 761 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 19 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rudi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Rudi splits its recorded history at 1984: 49% of all births land in the more recent half, 51% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1939 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1978 peak of 19 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Rudi at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1978
Current rank
#10,037
Active since
1931
Rudi popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1931–2025
- Peak year (1978)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 95 years of records
Rudi popularity over time - girls
485 total births recorded since 1985 (Rudi as girls' name)
Rudi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Rudi's strongest decade.
121 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Rudi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 18
1930s
18 births
- 1940s 22
1940s
22 births
- 1950s
1950s
80 births
- 1960s
1960s
110 births
- 1970s
1970s
104 births
- 1980s
1980s
121 births
- 1990s
1990s
109 births
- 2000s
2000s
90 births
- 2010s
2010s
61 births
- 2020s 46
2020s
46 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 121 births (16% of all-time use).
How Rudi compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Rudi's total volume
Rudi vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rudi by state
Where Rudi concentrates geographically, total births since 1931
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 23 | 3.0% |
| #2 | Florida | | 5 | 0.7% |
California share of Rudi's total US births 3.0%
Even split
23 of 761 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rudi? ▼
761 babies have been named Rudi since 1931. It currently ranks #10037 among boys. The peak year was 1978 with 19 births.
When was Rudi most popular? ▼
Rudi was most popular in the 1980s decade with 121 total births. The single peak year was 1978.
Where is Rudi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rudi are California (23 births), Florida (5 births).
Is Rudi a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Rudi is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 761 births, and as a girl's name it has 485 births.
How long has the name Rudi been used? ▼
Records for Rudi go back to 1931, giving 95 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Rudi? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rudolph, Rudy, Rudolf, Rudolfo, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rudi's data
- Rudi's usage has stayed within range of its 1980s decade-level peak (121 total births) through the 2020s (46) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Rudis (23 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Rudi
Nearby Names Like Rudi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rudi
Rudolph Boy
#3394 53,441 births
Rudy Boy
#817 50,228 births
Rudolf Boy
#10959 2,951 births
Rudolfo Boy
2,263 births
Rudra Boy
#1340 1,763 births
Compare Rudi side by side: Rudi vs Rudolph Rudi vs Rudy Rudi vs Rudolf
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rudi
Laray #10036
422 births · Peak 2009
Jurgen #10038
450 births · Peak 2015
Noman #10035
111 births · Peak 2019
Navarro #10039
252 births · Peak 2013
Dawayne #10034
1,690 births · Peak 1977
Kennet #10040
214 births · Peak 1959
Fontaine #10033
200 births · Peak 1978
Frantz #10041
1,103 births · Peak 1988
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1931–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rudi: #10037 Unisex Name - 761 Births, Peak 1978." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rudi. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rudi draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.