Etymology and OriginsRalph is a contracted form of the Old Norse name Ráðúlfr (or its Norman form Radulf). The name is cognate with Old English Rædwulf and Old High German Radulf, all combining elements meaning "counsel" (Old Norse rað, Old English ræd) and "wolf" (Old Norse ulfr, Old English wulf). Thus, Ralph etymologically signifies "wolf counsel" or "counsel-wolf."Scandinavian settlers introduced the name to England before the Norman Conquest, though afterwards it was bolstered by Norman influence. In the Middle Ages, it was variously spelled Rauf, Rafe or Ralf, reflecting the usual pronunciation. The Ralph spelling became more common in the 18th century.Notable BearersA famous bearer of the name was Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882), an American poet, essayist, and philosopher who led the Transcendentalist movement. Other notable individuals include British actor Ralph Fiennes, American actor Ralph Macchio, and NBA player Ralph Sampson. In the 11th century, Ralph (or Radulf) was a bishop of the Orkney Islands.Variants and FormsThe name has numerous variants across languages: Rafe (an English variant pronounced "rafe"), Ralf (common in German, Swedish, Polish, and Dutch), Raoul (French), Raúl (Spanish), Raul (Portuguese, Italian, Romanian), Raül (Catalan), Ralfs (Latvian), Rauf (Turkish), and Rádhulbh (Irish). The diminutive Ralphie is an English affectionate form.Meaning: wolf counselOrigin: Old Norse RáðúlfrType: First nameUsage regions: English, German, Swedish