Given name & surname
Randal
“the wolf shield”
Randal is a variant of Randall. One German interpretation is “the wolf shield.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Randal is a variant of Randall. One German interpretation is “the wolf shield.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Randal is a variant of Randall. An origin associated with Randall is German.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1909. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Randal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 29,324
- 29,192 boys · 132 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 1,477 babies
- 2025
- 18
- #5,345 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 18 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,345 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 30.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,477 in 1958. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 24,441 as a first name in 2020; 733 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Randal
- Rand PaulUnited States Senator from Kentucky since 2011born 1963
- Randal Kolo MuaniFrench footballer (born 1998)
- Randal KleiserFilm director, screenwriterborn 1946
- Randy JonesAmerican bobsledderborn 1969
- Randal WillarsMexican diverborn 2002
- Randal BryantAmerican computer scientistborn 1952
- Barry OrtonAmerican professional wrestler (1958–2021)
- Randal Oto'oGabonese footballerborn 1994
- Randal FalkerAmerican basketball player (born 1985)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Randal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Randolph
“the wolf shield”
>99% boys
Rand
“one who shields others”
79% boys · 21% girls
Sal
“princess; lady” · “a savior”
>99% boys
Andree
“manliness” · “virility”
93% boys · 7% girls
Rickey
“a powerful ruler”
>99% boys
Val
“one who is strong and healthy” · “resembling a spring flower”
88% boys · 12% girls
Rock
“one who is calm; restful”
>99% boys
Ron
“song of Joy”
>99% boys