Raul
How to say it: rah-OOL · /rɑˈul/
Spanish and Portuguese form of Ralph/Radulf, meaning wolf counsel; of Old Norse and Germanic origin.
Raul was the 597th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 440 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1990s, its births are down about 36% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #660 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #597 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 440 |
| Share of births | 1 in 7,534 |
| Peak decade | 1990s |
| Change over 10 years | −36% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #660 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Popularity for Raul crested in the 1990s before fading. Currently well below that level, the name appears set to slip further.
What goes with it
Pronounced rah OOL, the sound stays soft and rolling with a strong undercurrent. Ruben makes a natural companion.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Raul is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Raul
- Raul Meireles (born 1983)Portuguese association football player
- Raul Khadjimba (born 1958)Abkhazian politician
- Raul Rusescu (born 1988)Romanian footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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