Raoul is a French given name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old German name Hrodowulf, which is composed of the elements hroth ("fame") and wulf ("wolf"). Thus, Raoul means "famous wolf."
The name Raoul has been used in France since the Middle Ages. It was particularly popular among French nobility during that time period. Some notable figures with the name include Raoul I, Duke of Burgundy (888-936), and Raoul II, Count of Normandy (945-96).
Despite its French origin and use, Raoul is not as common a name in France today as it once was. However, it remains popular in other parts of Europe, particularly Belgium and the Netherlands.
In terms of popularity, Raoul peaked in the United States during the early 20th century but has since declined in usage. It is still used occasionally but is considered somewhat outdated or old-fashioned by many people today.
Overall, Raoul is a historic French name with a strong Germanic root meaning "famous wolf." While it may not be as widely used today, its rich history and powerful meaning make it an intriguing choice for a given name.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Raoul over the years in the United States:
The name Raoul first appeared in the top 1000 names list in 1897 with a total of 9 births that year. It remained relatively rare throughout the early to mid-20th century, with fewer than 30 births per year most years.
However, beginning in the late 1950s and into the 1960s, there was a significant increase in popularity for the name Raoul. In fact, it peaked at its highest point ever recorded in the United States in 1956 with 47 births that year.
Since then, the popularity of the name has fluctuated but generally trended downward. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were fewer than 20 births per year most years.
More recently, the name Raoul has seen a resurgence in popularity, with over 50 births recorded in both 2017 and 2022. Despite this recent uptick, it remains relatively uncommon compared to other names.
In total, there have been approximately 2909 births of the name Raoul in the United States since records began being kept in 1879. This shows that while the name has had periods of popularity and obscurity over the years, it has remained a steady presence in American naming trends.