Ralph
/rɑːlf/noun
A masculine given name of Germanic origin.
Did you know?Ralph comes from an old Germanic name built from elements meaning “wolf” and “counsel,” a classic heroic naming pattern in early medieval Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Rēdawulfaz
“A personal name formed from “counsel” + “wolf””
Old Norse / Old High German
Germanic
Ráðúlfr / Radulf
“Germanic male personal name meaning “counsel-wolf””
Old English
English
Rædwulf
“A masculine personal name”
Old French
OF
Raoul
“French form of the Germanic name”
Middle English
English
Rauf / Ralf
“Anglicized and shortened forms of the name”
Modern English
English
Ralph
“A masculine given name, traditionally pronounced “Ralf””