Adolph Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Adolph is a name of Germanic origin meaning 'noble wolf'. It evolved from the Old High German 'Adalwolf' and gained prominence in the 19th century. The name has a historical association that affects its modern perception, and it has variants such as Adal and Adolphus.
The name Adolph is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Adolph has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Adolph' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 223rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 408th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 675th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1107th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2271st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6987th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11827th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7414th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8498th out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Adolph' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Adolph"
Pronunciation
/ˈeɪ.dɒlf/
Origin
Germanic
Etymology
The name Adolph derives from the Old High German name 'Adalwolf', which is composed of the elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' and 'wolf' meaning 'wolf'.
Meaning
Noble wolf
Language Evolution
Adalwolf, Adolphus, Adolph
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Germany and among German immigrants in various countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Adal, Adolphus, Dolf
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Adolph is less common and can be associated with historical figures, particularly due to its association with Adolf Hitler, leading to a negative perception in many regions.
Famous People
Adolphus Busch, Adolph Zukor, Adolph Reed Jr.
Explore More Adolph Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Adolph"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Adolph"
"Adolph" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 223rd of 7545 | 9,144 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 408th of 6773 | 3,674 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 675th of 7552 | 2,322 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1107th of 10718 | 879 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2271st of 16616 | 459 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6987th of 24088 | 159 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 11827th of 23106 | 52 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7414th of 9107 | 13 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8498th of 9204 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Adolph" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
12.99% 184th/1416 |
11.68% 161st/1379 |
15.09% 357th/2366 |
22.24% 254th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
22.83% 353rd/1546 |
20.89% 325th/1556 |
20.91% 492nd/2353 |
24.82% 384th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
34.22% 762nd/2227 |
27.74% 674th/2430 |
22.01% 628th/2853 |
20.83% 578th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.85% 1288th/2937 |
39.45% 1374th/3483 |
25.33% 891st/3518 |
23.10% 934th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
29.57% 1536th/5194 |
33.47% 2114th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
50.91% 3723rd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Adolph" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Adolph"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Adolph" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.