Raoul

A boy's name of French origin with 2,914 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#13731 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

A surname from French.

Raoul is a boy's baby name of French origin, the French form of Ralph, derived from the Old Norse Ráðúlfr meaning 'wolf counsel' or 'wise wolf.' Raoul is the French spelling, giving this ancient Germanic name a romantic, continental elegance.

Opera lovers know Raoul as the male lead in The Phantom of the Opera — a name that belongs to romantic heroes, French adventure, and the kind of love that follows you everywhere.

EtymologyShow more

Raoul first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.

Its French classification suggests a path from french linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.

At a Glance

#13731

Current Rank

2,914

Total births

Since 1880

1928

Peak year

53 births

Compare Raoul with another name

Popularity Over Time

Raoul was #6879 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #13731, but its charm endures.

First appeared: 1880Peak: 1928 (53 births)Current: #13731

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Raoul
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	33	#11484	▼
2010s	69	#10196	▼
2000s	97	#7312	▼
1990s	152	#4429	▼
1980s	183	#2938	▼
1970s	276	#1871	▼
1960s	307	#1463	▼
1950s	370	#1267	▲
1940s	298	#1313	▼
1930s	364	#1121	▼
1920s	414	#1122	▲
1910s	289	#1116	▲
1900s	29	#1114	▲
1890s	26	#976	▲
1880s	7	#794	—

The Story of Raoul

A Silent Generation name

Peaking in 1928, Raoul is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Raoul are most likely born between 1918 and 1938.

How rare is Raoul?

Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Raoul — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 414 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Raoul by the numbers

Would fill 61 school buses
Meeting one Raoul per day would take 8 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(122 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Raoul
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	5	#13731	0
2023	5	#13699	-4 (-44.4%)
2022	9	#8823	+1 (12.5%)
2021	8	#9493	+2 (33.3%)
2020	6	#11675	-1 (-14.3%)
2019	7	#10554	0
2018	7	#10485	-6 (-46.2%)
2017	13	#6589	+4 (44.4%)
2015	9	#8568	+3 (50.0%)
2014	6	#11799	-1 (-14.3%)
2013	7	#10477	-1 (-12.5%)
2012	8	#9506	+2 (33.3%)
2011	6	#11931	0
2010	6	#11857	-8 (-57.1%)
2009	14	#6357	+5 (55.6%)
2008	9	#8852	-1 (-10.0%)
2007	10	#8037	-1 (-9.1%)
2005	11	#7003	0
2004	11	#6879	+1 (10.0%)
2003	10	#7124	-5 (-33.3%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Raoul a boy's or girl's name?

Raoul is primarily a boy's name.

When was Raoul most popular?

Raoul reached its peak popularity in 1928 with 53 births that year. It is currently ranked #13731 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Raoul?

Raoul is currently ranked #13731 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,914 babies since 1880.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginFrench names By EndingNames in -l TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024