Ralph — Contracted form of the Old Norse name Ráðúlfr (or its Norman form Radulf). Scandinavian settlers introduced it to England before the Norman conquest, though afterwards it was bolstered by Norman influence. In the Middle Ages it was usually spelled Ralf, but by the 17th century it was most commonly Rafe, reflecting the normal pronunciation. The Ralph spelling appeared in the 18th century.
Saintly namesake: Ralph Sherwin was an English Catholic priest and martyr, executed for his faith in 1581. He is remembered as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. (December 1 · 16th century)
Check back in a moment for rank and trend details.