Ralf is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Germanic word 'raþilaz', which means 'counsel'. It is a variant spelling of Ralph, which was introduced into England by the Normans in the 11th century. The name Ralf gained popularity in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages and remains common in Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands today.
The name Ralf experienced significant fluctuations in popularity throughout the decades, with peaks in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching as high as 19 births in 1963. However, it has largely fallen out of favor since the mid-1970s, with only five births recorded in both 1994 and 2015. Overall, there have been a total of 299 children named Ralf over the years.