Uncommon Male Names Starting with R
A list of beautiful, exotic, and uncommon male names starting with the letter R (with history of origin and meanings).
Last updated: March 21, 2022.
Rafe
Years of origin: circa 9th century.
Origin: Old Norse.
Meaning: wise wolf.
Rafe name variations: Reif, Raef, Rave.
Ragnar
Years of origin: late 8th or early 9th century.
Origin: Old Norse.
Meaning: army adviser.
Ragnar name variations: Ragner, Regnar, Raginheri, Ragnarr.
Raiden
Country of origin: Japan.
Meaning: thunder, lightning.
History behind: name derived from Japanese rai (translated as thunder) and den (translated as lightning).
Raiden name variations: Raden, Raidenn, Rayden.
Randolph
Years of origin: circa 9th century (as Rudolf).
Origin: Old English or Old Norse.
Meaning: wolf, shield.
Reference: Rudolf of Fulda, Benedictine monk.
Randolph name variations: Randolf, Rudolph, Randulph, Randall, Rolf, Rollo.
Randver
Name meaning: edge, border.
Origin: Old Norse.
Years of origin: circa 7th century.
Reference: Randver, Danish king.
Randver name variations: Rendver, Randever, Ranver.
Raphael
Origin: Hebrew.
Meaning: God has healed.
Raphael name variations: Raphaell, Rafaelius, Rafael.
Rasmus
Name meaning: admired, beloved.
First mention: circa 3rd century (as Erasmus).
Origin: Scandinavian and Greek.
Historical reference: Saint Erasmus of Formia.
Rasmus name variations: Rasmos Rasmmos, Erasmus, Erasmos, Ras, Asmus, Rastos, Razmus, Rasme, Remus, Ramus, Rassmus.
Rathbarth
Name meaning: advisor, counsel.
Origin: Old Norse.
Years of origin: circa 7th century.
Reference: Rathbarth, king of Gardariki.
Rathbarth name variations: Ratebarth, Ratbarth, Ratbart.
Rayari
Name meaning: poet.
Origin: Hindu.
Rayari name variations: Shayari, Sayari, Rayar, Shayar.
Raymond
Years of origin: circa 9th century.
Origin: Old German.
Meaning: wise protector.
Reference: Raymond the first, Count of Toulouse.
Raymond name variations: Raymont, Reymont, Reymond.
Reginald
Years of origin: circa 10th century.
Origin: Old High German.
Meaning: wise ruler, wise leader.
Reference: Reginald the first, Count of Burgundy.
History behind: derived from the Germanic ragin (translated as advice) and wald (translated as rule).
Reginald name variations: Regnald, Regnalt, Reynaud, Regenald.
Reiner
Years of origin: circa 10th century.
Origin: Old High German.
Meaning: army advisor.
History behind: name derived from the Germanic words ragin (translated as advice) and heri (translated as army).
Reiner name variations: Reyner, Rainer, Raynor.
Reza
Name meaning: affirmation, approval.
Origin: Persian.
Reza name variations: Reda, Reiza, Reida.
Rheagan
Name meaning: noble ruler, wise ruler.
Origin: Irish.
Rheagan name variations: Riogain, Riagain, Raegan, Reagan, Rhaegan, Regan, Ragen.
Rhys
Name meaning: fervor, eagerness, zeal.
First mention: circa 11th century.
Origin: Old Welsh.
Historical reference: Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth.
Note: often used as a female name.
Rhys name variations: Reece, Reese, Rease, Rhies, Rhy, Rheis.
Riambau
Name meaning: ever.
Origin: Catalan and Irish.
Earliest mention of the name: circa 14th century.
Historical reference: Riambau de Corbera, General of Sardinia.
Riambau name variations: Rhiambau, Rheambau, Rhiambay, Rheambay, Riambay.
Richmond
Years of origin: circa 14th century.
Origin: Old French.
Meaning: splendid, sumptuous.
Richmond name variations: Richemond, Richemont, Richmont, Rickmond.
Ridge
Origin: Old English.
Meaning: living by a ridge.
Ridge name variations: Rid, Riedge, Riddge.
Ridley
Years of origin: circa 18th century.
Origin: English.
Meaning: living by a clearing in the woods.
Ridley name variations: Riddle, Ripley, Riddley.
Rikiwulf
Name meaning: leading wolf, regal wolf.
Origin: Old Norse.
Earliest mention of the name: around 9th century.
Historical reference: Rikiwulf, a Viking from the Wulfing dynasty.
Rikiwulf name variations: Rikkiwulf, Rikiewulf, Rikiwulph, Reikiwuf.
Risto
Name meaning: Christ bearer.
Origin: Scandinavian and Greek.
History behind: it is a Scandinavian form of the name Christopher.
Risto name variations: Hristo, Rist, Rissto, Hristofor.
Rockford
First mention of the name: around 18th century.
Country of origin: France.
Meaning: strong as a rock.
Rockford name variations: Rokford, Rockfort, Rochefort.
Roderick
Years of origin: circa 8th century.
Origin: Old German.
Meaning: famous and powerful.
History behind: name derived from the Germanic elements hrod (translated as fame) and ric (translated as power).
Reference: Roderic, Visigothic king.
Roderick name variations: Rodric, Ruderick, Roderich.
Roman
Origin: Roman.
Meaning: of Rome.
History behind: derived from the Latin word romanus (translated as a citizen of the Roman Empire).
Roman name variations: Romann, Romain, Romano.
Ronald
Years of origin: circa 9th century (as Rognvald).
Origin: Old Norse.
Meaning: adviser, ruler.
Reference: Rognvald Heidumhaere, King of Vestfold.
Ronald name variations: Ronalt, Ronaldin, Ronaldus, Ron, Ronn.
Ronan
Years of origin: circa 6th century.
Origin: Irish.
Meaning: small seal.
Reference: Saint Ronan of Locronan.
Ronan name variations: Roenenn, Ronann, Rennan.
Rory
Years of origin: circa 13th century.
Origin: Gaelic.
Meaning: red, rust colored.
Rory name variations: Rorry, Roerrie, Rorie.
Rouen
Name meaning: area, field.
Origin: French.
Rouen name variations: Roen, Royen, Rouenn, Rounenann.
Royce
Origin: English.
Meaning: prominent king, famous king.
Royce name variations: Royse, Reece, Roicee.
Rudeth
Name meaning: famous wolf or red wolf.
First mention: circa 11th century.
Origin: Germanic.
Rudeth name variations: Rudett, Rudy, Rudolf.
Rudhart
Name meaning: red ruler.
Origin: Germanic.
First mention: around 11th century.
Historical reference: Rudhart, Bishop of Constance.
Rudhart name variations: Ruthard, Ruthard, Ruthart.
Rune
Name meaning: mystery, secret.
Origin: Old Norse.
Rune name variations: Runi, Runne, Runnen, Runa (female version).
Rupert
Years of origin: circa 8th century.
Origin: Old German.
Meaning: famous, bright.
History behind: name derived from the Germanic berhtl (translated as famous or bright). It is also a German form of the name Robert.
Reference: Saint Rupert of Bingen.
Rupert name variations: Rubert, Ruppert, Robert.
Rutger
Name meaning: famous, honored.
Origin: Swedish and Old French.
Rutger name variations: Roger, Rogier, Rotger, Rotgier.
Ryker
Origin: Old German.
Meaning: rich, wealthy, prosperous.
Ryker name variations: Ryaker, Riaker, Riker.
Ryne
Name meaning: uncertain, may mean illustrious.
Origin: Old Irish.
Ryne name variations: Rian, Ryan, Rien, Ryen.
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