Dudley, derived from Old English ' Dudda,' meaning 'people's meadow' or 'bold people,' is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was popularized in the 19th century through the character Sir Dudley Ward in William Makepeace Thackeray's novel 'The Newcomes.' Notable bearers include British actors Dudley Moore and Dudley Forwood.
"From 1914 to 1950, the name Dudley saw its highest popularity between 1928 and 1931, with nine births recorded in 1928 and seven or more births each year until 1931. However, the overall frequency of the name Dudley remained relatively low throughout this period, with a total of only 120 births over these four decades."