Rudyard is an English given name, originating from a surname derived from a place name. The place name Rudyard, a village in Staffordshire, England, comes from the Old English elements rūde “rue” (the herb) and geard “yard, enclosure,” thus meaning “rue yard” or “red yard.” The name is recorded in the Domesday Book as Rudierd, and the area was first mentioned in 1002. Over time, the spelling shifted to Rudyard. Association with Rudyard Kipling The name is almost exclusively associated with the British author Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936), who was named after Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, a body of water created by damming a tributary of the River Blithe. Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author of The Jungle Book, Kim, and If—, has made the name familiar in literary circles. His parents met at a picnic near the lake and chose the name in its honor. Notable Bearers Besides the famous author, a few other notable people bear the name Rudyard: Rudyard Griffiths (born 1968), a Canadian historian and public intellectual, co-founder of the Dominion Institute. Rudyard Uy Koulding (born 1973), a Filipino politician. Distribution The given name Rudyard is rare. In the United States, it ranked #13,924 in popularity in 1930 and has since fallen out of common use. Place names derived from the Kipling namesake exist, such as Rudyard in Chippewa County, Michigan (named after the author), and an unincorporated community in Coahoma County, Mississippi. Meaning: “rue yard” or “red yard” (Old English) Origin: English (place name) Type: Given name (masculine) Usage regions: Primarily English-speaking countries; rare