Ralph

Last seen for girls in 1990 at #12,958 · #1,046 for boys in 2025, 211 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1917 · 7,391 births
Debut · boys
317 births
In top 100 · boys
84 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
414,018
since 1880

Ralph over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201988peak #21, 1917boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1,046211
2024—#1,145183
2023—#1,192169
2022—#1,138184
2021—#1,111186
2020—#1,101180
2019—#1,023203
2018—#950219
2017—#1,066185
2016—#993205
2015—#1,065186
2014—#1,040193
2013—#1,008194
2012—#1,057180
2011—#953208
2010—#966205
2009—#953211
2008—#855248
2007—#868239
2006—#759278
2005—#769258
2004—#710270
2003—#658300
2002—#629314
2001—#610319
2000—#583342
1999—#570343
1998—#582333
1997—#544364
1996—#503415
1995—#502413
1994—#490422
1993—#428520
1992—#441499
1991—#405562
1990#12,9585#385603
1989—#347662
1988#10,3866#339628
1987#9,8256#297724
1986#9,5456#286728
1985#10,6775#277753
1984#6,29110#270771
1983#10,2755#249846
1982—#243949
1981#9,1106#247898
1980#7,4188#2291,039
1979#6,18910#2161,080
1978#5,21412#2051,079
1977#4,94213#1871,253
1976#6,6118#1931,161
1975#4,37014#1731,343
1974#6,9007#1741,371
1973#3,48118#1571,558
1972#3,89415#1591,671
1971#5,13610#1491,991
1970#3,11021#1472,248
1969#3,31817#1262,416
1968#2,78921#1272,325
1967#2,63222#1172,553
1966#2,45324#1122,783
1965#3,73312#1033,225
1964#3,37915#1033,564
1963#3,17616#993,931
1962#3,03317#974,180
1961#2,54323#954,443
1960#2,98917#894,770
1959#2,67819#845,048
1958#2,44922#785,453
1957#2,34723#765,709
1956#2,32123#676,041
1955#2,83916#675,965
1954#2,69517#616,311
1953#2,59517#596,513
1952#2,58117#566,469
1951#2,57716#516,525
1950#2,65215#526,406
1949#2,72614#506,748
1948#2,18820#516,915
1947#2,20020#507,389
1946#1,97022#486,587
1945#1,99318#445,785
1944#2,19916#426,273
1943#2,86111#406,771
1942#2,11717#386,637
1941#2,19015#386,040
1940#1,47727#375,838
1939#1,68421#355,959
1938#1,80519#356,013
1937#1,78419#345,923
1936#1,37528#316,029
1935#1,26432#326,090
1934#1,22134#316,282
1933#1,17936#296,185
1932#1,29332#276,727
1931#1,04345#256,960
1930#1,10145#257,634
1929#94158#267,715
1928#99456#248,100
1927#99059#248,434
1926#1,14844#248,455
1925#1,17643#258,467
1924#1,18844#238,766
1923#1,19742#238,629
1922#99756#238,484
1921#1,18442#238,860
1920#1,17142#228,556
1919#1,09045#227,709
1918#1,41130#228,162
1917#1,33730#217,391
1916#1,27832#217,085
1915#1,47524#216,816
1914#1,89613#215,009
1913#1,09125#223,963
1912#1,47714#233,435
1911#1,9567#241,674
1910#1,9357#281,278
1909#2,2085#301,091
1908#1,8626#251,138
1907—#29997
1906#1,9515#26984
1905—#27938
1904—#28899
1903#1,7925#29807
1902#1,4387#28866
1901#1,6795#29682
1900—#31896
1899#1,5965#29742
1898—#31803
1897#1,5555#32697
1896—#30746
1895#1,5925#30736
1894#1,4855#31692
1893—#31636
1892—#30725
1891#1,0068#28587
1890#1,3385#32587
1889#1,2795#39495
1888#1,1366#36547
1887—#38463
1886—#41440
1885—#44422
1884#1,0245#40464
1883—#45385
1882—#43407
1881—#45329
1880—#54317
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Ralph was already there! It came in at #54, and was given to 317 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2007–2025, when fewer than 250 boys a year got the name.

Where Ralph is popular in 1988

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedAKMaine: #172 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,456 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedMNIllinois: #324 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 2,782 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedWIMichigan: #304 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 3,233 boysMINew York: #235 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 1,706 boysNYMassachusetts: #217 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 2,304 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedIAIndiana: #340 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,879 boysINOhio: #280 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 3,077 boysOHPennsylvania: #255 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 2,637 boysPANew Jersey: #215 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,660 boysNJConnecticut: #266 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,713 boysCTCalifornia: #342 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 2,933 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedUTColorado: #433 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,828 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedNEMissouri: #418 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 5,216 boysMOKentucky: #164 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,312 boysKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedWVVirginia: #248 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 2,006 boysVAMaryland: #313 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,066 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedDEArizona: #331 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,454 boysAZNew Mexico: #338 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,287 boysNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedKSArkansas: #297 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,449 boysARTennessee: #388 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,231 boysTNNorth Carolina: #285 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 2,417 boysNCSouth Carolina: #255 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,729 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #308 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,592 boysOKLouisiana: #430 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,509 boysLAMississippi: #412 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,277 boysMSAlabama: #389 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,689 boysALGeorgia: #295 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 2,335 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Ralph, so not publishedHITexas: #398 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 3,431 boysTXFlorida: #329 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 2,560 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Kentucky#164 · 1 in 1,312
  2. Maine#172 · 1 in 1,456
  3. New Jersey#215 · 1 in 1,660
  4. Massachusetts#217 · 1 in 2,304
  5. New York#235 · 1 in 1,706

Best ever in a state: #8 in Idaho, 1914.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Kentucky#164181 in 1,312
Maine#17251 in 1,456
New Jersey#215311 in 1,660
Massachusetts#217181 in 2,304
New York#235761 in 1,706
Virginia#248201 in 2,006
Pennsylvania#255301 in 2,637
South Carolina#255131 in 1,729
Connecticut#26681 in 2,713
Ohio#280251 in 3,077
North Carolina#285181 in 2,417
Georgia#295201 in 2,335
Arkansas#29761 in 2,449
Michigan#304201 in 3,233
Oklahoma#30881 in 2,592
Maryland#313101 in 3,066
Illinois#324301 in 2,782
Florida#329331 in 2,560
Arizona#331121 in 2,454
New Mexico#33851 in 2,287
Indiana#340101 in 3,879
California#342861 in 2,933
Tennessee#38881 in 4,231
Alabama#38971 in 3,689
Texas#398421 in 3,431
Mississippi#41251 in 3,277
Missouri#41871 in 5,216
Louisiana#43091 in 3,509
Colorado#43351 in 4,828
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Ralph
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 99 spots since 2024 (#1,145 → #1,046)
  • 55 spots since 2020 (#1,101 → #1,046)
  • 19 spots since 2015 (#1,065 → #1,046)
  • Biggest jump: 116 spots in 2018 (#1,066 → #950)
  • Biggest drop: 109 spots in 2007 (#759 → #868)
Rise & fade · boys
37 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1917 at #21 (7,391 births)
  • Births halved by 1964, 47 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 84 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 84 yrs · run 1880–1963
  • Top 1,000: 134 yrs · run 1880–2011
Share of babies · boys
1 in 124
  • Highest: 1 in 124 boys born in 1918 were named Ralph (0.81%)
  • Latest: 1 in 8,095 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #21 in 1917, was only 1 in 125 (0.80%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 20.4% of all boys named Ralph (84,466) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s4,269#36 (1888)#43
1890s6,951#28 (1891)#30
1900s9,298#25 (1908)#28
1910s52,522#21 (1917)#23
1920s84,466#22 (1920)#24
1930s63,802#25 (1930)#30
1940s64,983#37 (1940)#44
1950s60,440#51 (1951)#65
1960s34,190#89 (1960)#107
1970s14,755#147 (1970)#176
1980s7,998#229 (1980)#278
1990s4,474#385 (1990)#485
2000s2,779#583 (2000)#739
2010s1,978#950 (2018)#1,012
2020s1,113#1,046 (2025)#1,122

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Ralph in 1988

girls
#10,386
6 births · 1 in 296,809 girls
boys
#339
628 births · 1 in 3,048 boys

Top girls' names in 1988

  1. #1Jessica51,556
  2. #2Ashley49,977
  3. #3Amanda39,459
  4. #4Sarah28,374
  5. #5Jennifer27,893
  6. #6Brittany26,816
  7. #7Stephanie22,843
  8. #8Samantha20,700
  9. #9Nicole20,315
  10. #10Elizabeth20,042
  11. #10,386Ralph6

Top boys' names in 1988

  1. #1Michael64,171
  2. #2Christopher53,014
  3. #3Matthew45,876
  4. #4Joshua42,653
  5. #5Andrew35,745
  6. #6David35,329
  7. #7Justin35,055
  8. #8Daniel34,718
  9. #9James32,523
  10. #10Robert30,319
  11. #339Ralph628
More about 1988

girls

1,780,854 girls got a published name in 1988; 1 in 296,809 of them was named Ralph, which outranked 25.2% of the 13,883 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ralph
  1. #9,244Zinnia7
  2. #9,244Zuleyma7
  3. #9,244Zykia7
  4. #10,386Ralph6
  5. #10,386Aasia6
  6. #10,386Abbee6
  7. #10,386Abeer6
  8. #11,798Aaliya5
  9. #11,798Aariel5
  10. #11,798Abbigayle5

Tied with 1,411 names at #10,386; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,890Jalissa#3,857 → #967
  2. ↑ 2,381Taja#3,101 → #720
  3. ↑ 1,710Whitley#2,156 → #446
  4. ↑ 1,225Jalisa#1,662 → #437
  5. ↑ 883Jaleesa#1,227 → #344
Fallers
  1. ↓ 620Channing#590 → #1,210
  2. ↓ 346Denisse#954 → #1,300
  3. ↓ 319Jeana#966 → #1,285
  4. ↓ 314Eliana#826 → #1,140
  5. ↓ 311Nakia#893 → #1,204

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,914,283 boys got a published name in 1988; 1 in 3,048 of them was named Ralph, which outranked 96.0% of the 8,495 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ralph
  1. #336Cedric642
  2. #337Zachariah640
  3. #338Earl635
  4. #339Ralph628
  5. #340Chance622
  6. #340Josue622
  7. #342Damian620
Biggest movers since 1987
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,252Nico#4,239 → #987
  2. ↑ 1,245Ridge#2,215 → #970
  3. ↑ 668Colten#1,484 → #816
  4. ↑ 600Brantley#1,587 → #987
  5. ↑ 518Long#1,337 → #819
Fallers
  1. ↓ 362Cordaro#908 → #1,270
  2. ↓ 246Ramsey#884 → #1,130
  3. ↓ 241Yaakov#974 → #1,215
  4. ↓ 233Adrain#990 → #1,223
  5. ↓ 230Kiel#846 → #1,076

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1988 →