Ralph goes back to the Old Norse Ráðúlfr, which reached England as Rædwulf and means "wolf counsel" or "counsel of the wolf". Ralph Waldo Emerson and the designer Ralph Lauren are its best-known American bearers; the name was a top 30 choice in the early 20th century. Ralph ranked number 584 in 2000, has slipped gently since and stands at number 1048 in 2025.