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Raoul as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Raoul

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The baby name Raoul is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced French: /ʁa.ul/ (rah-OOL); English: /rəˈuːl/ (rah-OOL or RAY-ool).

Raoul is Germanic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: French: /ʁa.ul/ (rah-OOL); English: /rəˈuːl/ (rah-OOL or RAY-ool)

What is the meaning of the name Raoul ?

The baby name Raoul is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced French: /ʁa.ul/ (rah-OOL); English: /rəˈuːl/ (rah-OOL or RAY-ool).

Raoul is Germanic in Origin.

Raoul is the French form of a Germanic dithematic name from Radulf/Ráðúlfr (rad ‘counsel’ + wulf/úlfr ‘wolf’), meaning “wolf counsel” or “wise wolf.” Through Norman French it aligns with English Ralph/Rafe and the Norse root forms. In Romance usage it appears as Raoul (French), Raúl (Spanish), and Raul (Portuguese and Italian).

Used by medieval French nobility and in epic verse - most famously Raoul de Cambrai - the name traveled with the Normans to England and remained a steady French staple, later reviving in the 19th–20th centuries. Modern recognition comes through figures like painter Raoul Dufy and diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. Variants and cognates include Ralph, Ralf, Rafe, Raúl, Raul; related surnames Raulet and Raoult. Its imagery blends strategic wisdom with lupine prowess.

Raoul has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Raoul

Raoul Bova Actor · Born 1971 · Italy Raoul Bova is an Italian actor best known for his romantic leading roles in European films. He broke through with Piccolo grande amore in 1993 and has remained a familiar screen presence in Italian cinema and television.

Raoul – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
CM 0 #34 22 2,592
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
BI Boys 0 #43 2 917
LU 0 #58 9 2,830
CM Boys 0 #74 1,592 12,054
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
PH 0 #108 3 5,607
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
Switzerland Boys 2024 #136 2 1,769
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
PA 0 #138 1 3,797
LU Boys 0 #155 64 4,970
MT Boys 0 #174 6 4,064
Sweden Boys 2022 #180 3 1,509
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
PS 0 #223 4 5,692
AO Boys 0 #247 3 5,568
GH 0 #248 1 5,396
France Girls 1950 #251 4 966
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
HR Boys 0 #255 5 3,997
GR Boys 0 #270 4 6,912
IL 0 #278 5 6,291
JM Boys 0 #291 3 6,876
JP Boys 0 #301 3 7,909
Canada Boys 2024 #302 5 2,588
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
AL Boys 0 #303 1 5,122
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
CN Boys 0 #326 6 9,639
DK Boys 0 #328 5 7,401
NL 0 #331 61 2,481
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
MU Boys 0 #345 13 8,477
NL Boys 0 #347 1,008 5,873
MY 0 #352 3 12,352
France Boys 2021 #355 33 2,865
GH Boys 0 #356 6 8,138
PT Boys 0 #358 10 7,951
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
Austria Boys 0 #397 46 2,180
PH Boys 0 #400 9 11,440
Finland Boys 0 #412 16 2,041
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
Germany 0 #419 19 2,542
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
ZA 0 #438 10 14,421
MX 0 #442 4 8,339
SD Boys 0 #465 2 10,523
AR Boys 0 #481 3 7,628
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
CM Girls 0 #507 34 11,671
CR Boys 0 #510 1 10,188
IT Boys 0 #518 1,709 10,046
RU Boys 0 #522 5 12,621
PS Boys 0 #539 10 10,655
HK Boys 0 #551 7 12,905
LY 0 #551 9 12,703
IR Boys 0 #564 2 10,162
Finland Boys 2026 #581 102 3,552
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
IL Boys 0 #596 12 10,983
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
LB 0 #625 34 13,263
IT 0 #638 77 4,183
CL Boys 0 #648 18 13,390
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
SG Boys 0 #682 16 17,960
IQ Boys 0 #694 4 13,071
QA Boys 0 #696 12 18,093
TN 0 #749 81 13,765
SY 0 #765 3 11,684
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
Germany Boys 0 #781 172 5,697
KW Boys 0 #805 2 18,755
EG Boys 0 #855 32 15,035
OM Boys 0 #866 16 17,948
PE Boys 0 #869 10 14,506
Spain Boys 0 #882 49 5,610
United States Boys 2024 #888 5 7,044
NG Boys 0 #933 19 16,906
MX Boys 0 #947 36 16,355
CO Boys 0 #978 4 15,656
DZ 0 #1,012 165 20,130
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
IN Boys 0 #1,037 3 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,066 27 22,615
MA 0 #1,072 57 20,986
ZA Boys 0 #1,086 93 25,619
MY Boys 0 #1,174 9 25,439
TR 0 #1,252 3 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,595 20 28,008

Raoul is popular in 72 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Switzerland
United States
Sweden
Canada

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People also ask about Raoul

Raoul is predominantly a boy's name.
Raoul is a 2 syllable name, pronounced French: /ʁa.ul/ (rah-OOL); English: /rəˈuːl/ (rah-OOL or RAY-ool).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Raúl, Raul, Ralf, Ralph, Radulf and Radulph.
Across languages, Raoul has these equivalents: Ralph (English), Ralf (German/Scandinavian), Raúl (Spanish), Raul (Portuguese, Romanian), Raül (Catalan), and 1 more.
Yes — Raoul ranked #136 in Switzerland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Raoul ranks highest in Switzerland (#136 in 2024).
Raoul's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #391 in 2011 to #355 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 1 notable people named Raoul are in our database, including Raoul Bova (Actor).