Rand is a short form of the medieval name Randolf (or Randolph) and other names beginning with Rand. As a given name, it originated in England and has been in occasional use since the revival of Randolph in the 18th century. The name gained wider recognition in the late 20th century through notable bearers such as American politician and ophthalmologist Rand Paul (born 1963), American businessman Rand Araskog (1931–2021), and video game designer Rand Miller (born 1959). In fiction, the name is famously used for Rand al'Thor, the protagonist of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The root of the name, Randolf, comes from the Old German elements rant meaning "rim (of a shield)" and wolf meaning "wolf". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it merged with the Old Norse cognate Randúlfr brought by Scandinavian settlers. After declining in the Middle Ages, the name was revived in the 18th century, typically in the spelling Randolph. Rand is also a surname derived from Randolf, and as a surname it gained literary fame as the chosen pen name of the Russian-American author Ayn Rand (1905–1982), whose philosophy of Objectivism and novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged have had lasting cultural impact. Variant forms include the diminutive Randy, the Old Norse Randúlfr, the Medieval English Randel, and the Germanic Randulf. Notable Bearers Rand Paul (born 1963) – U.S. Senator from Kentucky, ran for president in 2016. Rand Miller (born 1959) – co-creator of the video game series Myst. Rand Brooks (1918–2003) – American actor, known for roles in Gone with the Wind and low-budget Westerns. Rand Holmes (1942–2002) – Canadian underground comic artist, created Harold Hedd. Meaning: Short form of Randolf / Randolph, derived from Germanic elements meaning "shield rim" and "wolf" Origin: English, Germanic Type: Given name (short form) Usage Regions: English-speaking countries