Randol
A boy's name of Old Norse origin with 572 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Randol is a boy's baby name, a compressed variant of Randolph or Randall, which is of Old Norse or Germanic origin, from Randulf, composed of rand (shield) and ulf (wolf), meaning 'shield wolf.'
Randol gives Randall a more unusual visual ending while keeping the familiar Ran- opening. It was used primarily in the American South and Midwest during the early to mid-20th century, when Germanic-Norse name roots were still common in American naming traditions.
EtymologyShow more
Though Randol dates back to 1920 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Old Norse classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Randol’s 572 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Randol has 59+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1920.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15 | #9934 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 32 | #9729 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 38 | #5710 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 66 | #4853 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 112 | #2817 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 192 | #1838 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 64 | #2831 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 26 | #3910 | — |
| 1920s | 27 | #4513 | — |
The Story of Randol
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1956, Randol is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Randol are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.
How rare is Randol?
With 572 total births on record, Randol remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1920, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 192 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Randol by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Randol per day would take 1.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(59 years, 1920–2006)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 | #11715 |
| 2005 | 9 | #8153 |
| 1999 | 5 | #11217 |
| 1998 | 6 | #9365 |
| 1996 | 6 | #8759 |
| 1994 | 5 | #9919 |
| 1993 | 5 | #9829 |
| 1991 | 5 | #9286 |
| 1989 | 7 | #6765 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7569 |
| 1985 | 10 | #4271 |
| 1984 | 7 | #5445 |
| 1982 | 9 | #4502 |
| 1979 | 6 | #5892 |
| 1978 | 12 | #3358 |
| 1977 | 7 | #4993 |
| 1975 | 5 | #6113 |
| 1974 | 5 | #5815 |
| 1973 | 6 | #4948 |
| 1972 | 5 | #5562 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Randol a boy's or girl's name?
When was Randol most popular?
How popular is the name Randol?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1920–2006