Randy
Randy is typically a diminutive of Randall or Randolph, both of which have Old English and Germanic roots meaning 'shield wolf' or 'protector.' It became popular as an independent given name in mid-20th century America.
Current Popularity
#1089 for boys
in the United States (2025)
Popularity over time
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce
- •Has a distinctly American, mid-century feel
- •Be aware that in British English, 'randy' is slang with sexual connotations
- •Often seen as informal; Randall may be preferred for formal contexts
Similar Names
Famous People
Randy Jackson
Musician and American Idol judge
Randy Travis
Country music singer
Randy Moss
NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver
Randy Newman
Singer-songwriter and composer
Statistics
329,468
Total births since 1880
1956
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.