Rudy

Rudy is a diminutive of Rudolf or Rudolph, from the Germanic Hrodwulf, meaning "famous wolf" — combining hrod, "fame" or "glory," and wulf, "wolf." The name carries a certain rugged, friendly energy, particularly in America where it became associated with perseverance through the 1993 film Rudy, about a determined young man who refuses to give up his dream of playing football for Notre Dame.

Rudy ranks #185 among America's most popular pet names, and it has a warmly tenacious quality that suits companions who refuse to be left out of anything. A Rudy is the pet who keeps trying, who shows up at every door, who insists on being included in whatever is happening. The name has a reddish undertone — Rudolph's red nose gives Rudy an unavoidable festive association — making it particularly popular for companions with warm-toned coats. It is irresistibly friendly.