Randolph is a masculine given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old German words "rand" meaning "shield" and "wulf" meaning "wolf". Therefore, the name Randolph can be interpreted to mean "powerful as a wolf".
The name Randolph has been in use for centuries, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 11th century. It was first used by members of the Norman nobility who settled in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. One of the most notable early bearers of the name was Ranulf Flambard, a 12th-century English bishop and statesman who served as Chancellor to King William II.
Throughout history, the name Randolph has been associated with various families of prominence and influence. For instance, the Earls of Moray in Scotland were named Randolph, as were several members of the prominent American colonial family, the Randolphs of Virginia.
The name Randolph has also been used in literature and popular culture. In Shakespeare's play "King John", the character of Philip Falconbridge is referred to by his real name, Sir Richard le Scroop (also known as Robert or Randolph). Additionally, there have been several notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Randolph, such as Randolph Churchill, grandfather of Winston Churchill, and Randolph Scott, an American actor.
In recent years, the name Randolph has seen a decline in popularity. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it ranked #1086 in popularity for boys' names in 2020 in the United States. Nonetheless, it remains a distinctive and historic name with a rich heritage behind it.
The name Randolp has been consistently popular among parents in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Between 1949 and 1964, there were a total of 53 babies named Ralph born annually.
During this period, the years with the highest number of births were 1953 and 1958, each seeing 8 new little Randolphs entering the world. The most common year for the name was 1950, with a total of 7 births that year.
Interestingly, there were no recorded births of the name Ralph in the United States between 1961 and 1962. However, the name made a comeback in 1963 and 1964, with each year seeing 5 new babies named Randolp being born.
Overall, these statistics show that while the name Randolp may have had its peak popularity during the late 1940s and early 1950s, it has remained a consistent choice among parents in the United States over the years.