Rudy Giuliani
This is the second in a series of examinations of the current crop of US presidential candidates; the previous entry looked at Hillary Clinton. I’m analyzing these names the same way I would analyze anyone’s: a combination of name history and sound/meaning analysis to give an overview of the person’s life trajectory.
Rudy’s full name is Rudolf William Louis Giuliani. It appears to be the case that a person’s first, or most commonly used name, is the one that indicates life trajectory in the social or community sphere; while their middle name(s) indicate personal spiritual guidance and growth, and the last name places them in the context of their ancestry.
Rudolf means “wolf-fame”, i.e. “one with a wolf-like reputation”, and comes ultimately from Proto Germanic Hrodwulf. German mercenaries and other migrants into the Roman Empire brought the name into Latin, where it became Rudolfus. The name is still a popular one in Italy — and of course in the Italian community of Brooklyn, where Giuliani was born. The spiritual energy of the wolf is ultimately free expression of the will; and in the name Rudolf, a tremendous burst of fast, flowing energy passes through a time of decision, and results in expansive freedom. As for the nickname, Rudy, the beginning burst and decision are the same, but the results are stamina and endurance.
Giuliani’s first middle name, William, is also Germanic, from Wilhelm, meaning “will-helmet”, i.e. “headstrong”, “willful”. It’s one of the most successful names in European history, being popular in various versions in various languages across the continent, from Irish Liam to Hungarian Vilmos. Like Rudolf, William indicates a strong will that expands forcefully, leading in this case to manifestation; compare similar whim and womb.
Giuliani’s second middle name, Louis, is also remarkably similar to Rudolf in its meaning, and also its history; so it is as though his first three names are aspects of a single theme. Louis is the French form of the ancient Germanic name Hludwig, which is (you guessed it) cognate with the German name Ludwig (as in Beethoven). Sixteen French kings bore the name, not counting the very early ones named Clovis, which is a Latinized variant of Louis. Phonosemantically Louis, pronounced loo-wee, is also associated with the speedy, flowing expansion of free will, especially under conditions of stamina and hardship.
Finally, Giuliani is one of the modern Italian derivatives of the ancient Latin name Julius, which was of course popularized by Julius Caesar two thousand years ago. As far as I know, no “meaning” for Julius has ever been discovered; but energetically it indicates a fast, flowing energy that emerges from decision and expands to fill space. Despite its different spelling, Giuliani has the same energy; but its closing syllables indicate a result of narrowing the energy towards a long-term goal.
Thus the overall trajectory of Rudy Giuliani’s name is one which begins with will, proceeds through a time of decision and stamina, resulting in some kind of transformation – variously into manifestation, targeting towards new goals, or freedom. It’s interesting that Giuliani’s life has indeed gone through at least two of stages — the time of will, when he was exercising his “tough love” version of government on New York City; and a point of decision, in which his role was changed and transformed by the 9/11 attack. The next stage for Giuliani’s social sphere, indicated by the final syllable of Rudolf, is expansion and freedom; but for his own personal growth, indicated by his name William, the next stage involves creative manifestation. It will be interesting to see how his presidential ambitions play into these life trajectories.
