boy's name
Raoul
- Origin French
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (France)
- Births on record 34,407
France
#988
2025 births
Raoul is a boy's name with 2 syllables. In 2024 it was given to 5 babies in the United States. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
- Raoul is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 1912, when 900 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in France.
- Today about 1 in 14,737 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Raoul over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 7,700 |
| 1910s | 6,410 |
| 1920s | 6,940 |
| 1930s | 3,685 |
| 1940s | 1,815 |
| 1950s | 1,425 |
| 1960s | 1,130 |
| 1970s | 790 |
| 1980s | 425 |
| 1990s | 255 |
| 2000s | 300 |
| 2010s | 255 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 215 |
How popular is Raoul?
In 2025, Raoul was given to 40 babies in France, ranking #988 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Raoul is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Raoul
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Raoul also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Raoul over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Raoul in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Raoul
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Raoul — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Raoul
How popular is the name Raoul?
In 2025, Raoul was given to 40 babies in France, ranking #988 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Is Raoul a girl's or a boy's name?
Raoul is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Raoul?
Raoul has 2 syllables.
When was Raoul most popular?
Raoul peaked in 1912, when 900 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Raoul a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Raoul currently ranks #988 in France. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.