Given name & surname
Rupert
“one who is bright with fame”
Rupert is a form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Rupert carries the interpretation “one who is bright with fame.” Rupert is a form of Robert. One German interpretation is “one who is bright with fame.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Rupert is used as a form of Robert.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Rupert is a form of Robert. The history of Robert gives this family its wider story. Robert’s historical associations include three kings of Scotland, notably Robert the Bruce.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Rupert through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,611
- 5,595 boys · 16 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 161 babies
- 2025
- 29
- #3,831 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +27%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 29 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,831 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 26.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 156 in 1920. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,197 as a first name in 2020; 7,417 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.
Rupert’s family of names
Rupert shares a linguistic root with Robert. In English usage, Rupert has a conventional equivalent in the Portuguese form RUPERTO. Rupert is a form of Robert.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Rupert has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Rupert
- Rupert GrintEnglish actor (born 1988)
- Rupert EverettBritish actorborn 1959
- Rupert BrookeEnglish poet (1887–1915)
- Rupert, King of the RomansKing of Germany and Elector Palatine (1352-1410)
- Rupert FriendBritish actorborn 1981
- Rupert GravesEnglish film, television, and theatre actorborn 1963
- Rupert SheldrakeEnglish biochemist, author and parapsychological researcher (*1942)
- Rupert of SalzburgFrankish bishop650–718
- Rupert Penry-JonesBritish actorborn 1970
Characters named Rupert: Rupert Thorne (the DC Universe), Rupert Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Rupert, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elbert
“a wellborn man” · “a bright man”
>99% boys
Bert
“one who is illustrious”
>99% boys
Sumner
“a legal official; one who serves summons”
82% boys · 18% girls
Wilfred
“one who wishes for peace”
>99% boys
Hilbert
“battle”
>99% boys
Garnett
“resembling the dark-red gem” · “one who wields a spear”
>99% boys
Worth
“enclosure”
>99% boys
Norbert
“one who shines from the north”
>99% boys