Name profile

BoyPronounced English /ˈɹælf/; British English /ˈɹeɪf/; German /ˈʁalf/Dutch language family

Ralph

Contracted form of the Old Norse name Ráðúlfr.

Quick answer

Ralph is a boy name.

Pronunciation: English /ˈɹælf/; British English /ˈɹeɪf/; German /ˈʁalf/.

GenderBoy
PronunciationEnglish /ˈɹælf/; British English /ˈɹeɪf/; German /ˈʁalf/
Language familyDutch

Meaning and history

Contracted form of the Old Norse name Ráðúlfr (or its Norman form Radulf ). Scandinavian settlers introduced it to England before the Norman Conquest, though afterwards it was bolstered by Norman influence. In the Middle Ages it was variously spelled Rauf, Rafe or Ralf reflecting the usual pronunciation. The Ralph spelling became more common in the 18th century. A famous bearer of the name was Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American poet and author who wrote on transcendentalism.

Notes and context

Usage: english, german, swedish