Raul Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROWL /raʊl/
Origin: Spanish; Portuguese
Meaning: Spanish: 'counsel; advice'; Portuguese: 'wolf'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Raul is derived from the Old Germanic name Radulf, which is composed of the elements 'rad' meaning 'counsel' and 'wulf' meaning 'wolf'. This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old High German to Latinized forms before entering the Romance languages.
In the context of the Spanish and Portuguese languages, Raul emerged as a variant of the name Ralph, which also has Germanic roots. The Latin form 'Radulfus' was used in medieval texts, which eventually influenced the development of the name in the Iberian Peninsula.
Historically, the name Raul has been borne by notable figures, including saints and nobility. One significant historical milestone is Saint Raul, a 9th-century figure who was venerated in the Christian tradition, particularly in regions influenced by the spread of Christianity in Europe.
The name gained further prominence through various medieval texts and chronicles, where it was often associated with valor and leadership, reflecting the characteristics of its etymological roots. Culturally, the name Raul has resonated in various traditions, often symbolizing strength and wisdom due to its components.
In literature and folklore, characters named Raul have frequently been depicted as noble and courageous, embodying the traits associated with the wolf in Germanic culture. The name also has diminutive forms, such as Raúl in Spanish-speaking contexts, which have contributed to its enduring presence in various cultures.
Overall, Raul reflects a rich historical tapestry, linking linguistic evolution with cultural significance.
Famous people named Raul
In this section, you will find notable people named Raul. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Raul who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Raul who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Raul Jimenez is a professional footballer best known for his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Benfica, and the Mexican national team.
Raul Gonzalez is a retired footballer best known for his career at Real Madrid, Schalke 04, and the Spanish national team.
Raul Seixas was a Brazilian singer-songwriter best known for his influential work in Brazilian rock music and hits like 'Ouro de Tolo' and 'Metamorfose Ambulante'.
Raul Julia was an actor best known for his roles in The Addams Family, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Romero.
Fictional characters named Raul
The following list of fictional characters named Raul is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Raul is a fictional character from the video game series Resident Evil. He is a skilled operative who plays a key role in combating bioterrorism and uncovering conspiracies.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Raul, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Raul. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Raul was first seen in the United States in 1904.
Raul has ranked as high as #404 nationally, which occurred in 2000, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Arizona.
In the past 5 years the name Raul has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Raul is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Raul was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Raul (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 127 | |
| CA | 120 | |
| FL | 21 | |
| AZ | 21 | |
| IL | 15 | |
| GA | 13 | |
| NC | 8 | |
| NM | 8 | |
| NY | 8 | |
| NV | 7 | |
| PA | 7 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| MA | 6 | |
| OK | 6 | |
| AR | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Raul.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 466 |
| 2023 | 475 |
| 2022 | 539 |
| 2021 | 455 |
| 2020 | 503 |
| 2019 | 552 |
| 2018 | 551 |
| 2017 | 556 |
| 2016 | 652 |
| 2015 | 693 |
| 2014 | 727 |
| 2013 | 722 |
| 2012 | 722 |
| 2011 | 835 |
| 2010 | 926 |
| 2009 | 1,015 |
| 2008 | 1,180 |
| 2007 | 1,387 |
| 2006 | 1,355 |
| 2005 | 1,332 |
| 2004 | 1,381 |
| 2003 | 1,401 |
| 2002 | 1,407 |
| 2001 | 1,439 |
| 2000 | 1,519 |
| 1999 | 1,469 |
| 1998 | 1,373 |
| 1997 | 1,406 |
| 1996 | 1,493 |
| 1995 | 1,512 |
| 1994 | 1,452 |
| 1993 | 1,496 |
| 1992 | 1,488 |
| 1991 | 1,458 |
| 1990 | 1,461 |
| 1989 | 1,359 |
| 1988 | 1,235 |
| 1987 | 1,184 |
| 1986 | 1,164 |
| 1985 | 1,108 |
| 1984 | 1,106 |
| 1983 | 1,141 |
| 1982 | 1,223 |
| 1981 | 1,318 |
| 1980 | 1,288 |
| 1979 | 1,119 |
| 1978 | 1,035 |
| 1977 | 1,016 |
| 1976 | 1,111 |
| 1975 | 1,038 |
| 1974 | 1,064 |
| 1973 | 959 |
| 1972 | 1,051 |
| 1971 | 1,116 |
| 1970 | 1,038 |
| 1969 | 843 |
| 1968 | 885 |
| 1967 | 852 |
| 1966 | 844 |
| 1965 | 793 |
| 1964 | 837 |
| 1963 | 851 |
| 1962 | 815 |
| 1961 | 881 |
| 1960 | 904 |
| 1959 | 846 |
| 1958 | 865 |
| 1957 | 846 |
| 1956 | 812 |
| 1955 | 798 |
| 1954 | 782 |
| 1953 | 738 |
| 1952 | 713 |
| 1951 | 704 |
| 1950 | 646 |
| 1949 | 646 |
| 1948 | 615 |
| 1947 | 572 |
| 1946 | 482 |
| 1945 | 487 |
| 1944 | 393 |
| 1943 | 371 |
| 1942 | 345 |
| 1941 | 291 |
| 1940 | 304 |
| 1939 | 322 |
| 1938 | 303 |
| 1937 | 264 |
| 1936 | 282 |
| 1935 | 324 |
| 1934 | 313 |
| 1933 | 320 |
| 1932 | 338 |
| 1931 | 364 |
| 1930 | 408 |
| 1929 | 422 |
| 1928 | 375 |
| 1927 | 361 |
| 1926 | 306 |
| 1925 | 282 |
| 1924 | 307 |
| 1923 | 217 |
| 1922 | 203 |
| 1921 | 195 |
| 1920 | 179 |
| 1919 | 109 |
| 1918 | 101 |
| 1917 | 93 |
| 1916 | 82 |
| 1915 | 88 |
| 1914 | 51 |
| 1913 | 53 |
| 1912 | 29 |
| 1911 | 18 |
| 1910 | 16 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1906 | 9 |
| 1904 | 8 |