Rudi is a unisex name of German origin, derived from the Germanic elements 'Hrōd' meaning fame and 'wīc' meaning settlement. It was popularized as a given name in the late 19th century by Austrian author Karl May, who featured a character named Rudyard Kipling's Kim. Rudi is often associated with creativity and independence, reflecting its origins and literary heritage.
The name Rudi experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with peaks occurring in 1956 (16 births), 1960 (18 births), and 2022 (11 births). The most recent data shows a steady decline, with only 5 births each in 2021 and 2023. Over the entire period from 1931 to 2023, there were a total of 746 children named Rudi born.