Raul
Boy name · English · French · German · Portuguese · Spanish
Meaningwolf counsel · Spanish form of Ralph
- US rank
- #634
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #189 in 1980
440 babies were named Raul in the US in 2025. It has dropped 77 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1904–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Raul you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Raul
Raul Meireles
Portuguese association football player
Choose Raul and your child shares a first name with Raul Meireles, a Portuguese association football player. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Raul, like who?” Raul Meireles's Wikipedia article is available in 59 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Raul Meireles on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: БОГДАН ЗАЯЦ, CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 3,882 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Raul, 440 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Raul would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRaul first shows up in US birth records in 1904, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 121 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1980, when it ranked #189. Today it's #634, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowRaul was 3.0× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 1,293 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 3,882.
- TrendRaul has slipped 77 places over the last five years and now sits at #634. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedRaul is most popular in New Mexico, where it ranks #270, followed by Texas (#275) and Nevada (#323). It's in the top 1,000 in 15 states.
- MeaningRaul is a Spanish form of Ralph, which means “wolf counsel”. Our records link it to English, French and German roots.
About the name Raul
Raul is a boy name of English, French and German origin meaning “wolf counsel”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with R and ending in “-aul”. US birth records list Raul for boys from 1904 to 2025, in 120 of those 122 years. Its best year was 1980, when it ranked #189 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #634, with 440 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench namesGerman namesPortuguese namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 40 | 24,712 boys |
| 1910s | 92 | 10,892 boys |
| 1920s | 258 | 3,876 boys |
| 1930s | 307 | 3,262 boys |
| 1940s | 298 | 3,352 boys |
| 1950s | 383 | 2,613 boys |
| 1960s | 444 | 2,252 boys |
| 1970s | 640 | 1,562 boys |
| 1980s | 657 | 1,522 boys |
| 1990s | 750 | 1,333 boys |
| 2000s | 673 | 1,486 boys |
| 2010s | 368 | 2,718 boys |
| 2020s | 278 | 3,596 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Raul
What does the name Raul mean?
Raul means “wolf counsel” in Spanish, as a form of Ralph.
What is the origin of the name Raul?
Raul has English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Raul a boy or girl name?
Raul is a boy name.
How popular is the name Raul?
Raul ranked #634 for US boys in 2025, given to 440 babies. Its best year was 1980 (#189).