Raoul

♂ Boy

Pronounced rah-OOL /rɑːˈuːl/Medium

Meaning: Raoul is the French form of Ralph, from the Germanic Radulf — rad ('counsel') plus ulf ('wolf'). It arrived in France with the Normans and has been in steady use there for a thousand years.Medium

In 30 seconds: French and elegant: Raoul is the French Ralph — 'counsel' plus 'wolf' (said 'rah-OOL').

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Origin MediumFrench, Germanic

MeaningRaoul is the French form of Ralph, from the Germanic Radulf — rad ('counsel') plus ulf ('wolf'). It arrived in France with the Normans and has been in steady use there for a thousand years.

U.S. rank (2024)#13731 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1928

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,914

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Raoul is the French descendant of the Germanic Radulf ('counsel' + 'wolf'), a name the Normans spread widely. It has been used in France for a millennium and travelled into Spanish and Italian as Raúl and Raul. In English it keeps a distinctly French sound and reads as suave and old-world (said 'rah-OOL').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., where Raul is more common. Rare, French, and dashing.

Did you know? Raoul and Ralph are the very same name in different clothes: both descend from the Germanic Radulf, 'wolf counsel'. The Normans carried it into France and England alike (said 'rah-OOL').

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Raoul — French form of Ralph, from Germanic Radulf

Variations

RaulRalphRodolphe

Nicknames

RaoRou

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Raoul…

Raul— the Spanish form of the same name

Ralph— the English form of the same name

Rolf— a Germanic cousin, also 'wolf'

Remy— a like French boys' classic

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Raoul mean?

Raoul means 'wolf counsel' — the French form of Ralph, from the Germanic Radulf.

How do you pronounce Raoul?

It's said rah-OOL /rɑːˈuːl/ — two syllables, stress on the last.

Is Raoul a boy or girl name?

Raoul is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Raoul?

Raoul is a rare name for boys in the U.S.