Rudy, derived from the Latin 'Hrodowald', meaning 'famous ruler', is an English male given name of Germanic origin. It gained popularity in the United States during the 20th century, notably after the release of the film "Rudy" in 1993, which told the story of Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger's dream to play football at the University of Notre Dame. The name Rudy is often associated with warmth and friendliness due to its diminutive nature. It has been used by several notable individuals, including American football player Rudy Tomjanovich and German footballer Rudy Gestede. Despite its Germanic roots, Rudy is widely recognized as an American name, having been popularized by U.S.-based media and entertainment industry.
The name Rudy has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. From the early 1900s to the late 1980s, the number of births with the name Rudy ranged from a low of 5 to a high of 27 per year, with an average around 8-9 births annually. However, starting in 1985, there was a notable increase in popularity, peaking at 27 births in 1986. This trend continued into the late 1980s and early 1990s, with over 20 births each year from 1989 to 1993. After that, the popularity of the name Rudy began to decline, dropping back down to single-digit figures by the mid-1990s. In recent years, the name has seen some resurgence, with peaks in 2016 (17 births), 2017 (16 births), and 2019 (24 births). Overall, there have been a total of 1122 births named Rudy since 1912.