Olaf Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Olaf is an Old Norse name meaning 'ancestor's descendant', originating from the historical name Áleifr. It has evolved through various forms over time, and its traits often reflect a strong cultural heritage. The name has no biblical relevance but has gained fame due to historical figures and modern popular culture.
The name Olaf 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. From 2020-2022, Olaf has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, 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 West. Across generations, 'Olaf' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 902nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1664th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2098th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2468th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5110th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5766th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7975th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Olaf' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Olaf"
Pronunciation
/ˈoʊ.lɑf/
Origin
Old Norse
Etymology
The name Olaf comes from the Old Norse name Áleifr, which is derived from the elements 'anu' meaning 'ancestor' and 'leifr' meaning 'heir' or 'descendant'.
Meaning
ancestor's descendant
Language Evolution
Áleifr, Olaf, Olafur
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and has remained in use through the centuries, particularly in Norway and Sweden.
Variants & Derivatives
Olafur, Olav, Olafson
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Olaf is best known globally due to the character from Disney's animated film 'Frozen', which has positively influenced its image, making it associated with fun and warmth.
Famous People
Olaf II of Norway, also known as Saint Olaf, Olaf Scholz, German politician
Explore More Olaf Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Olaf"
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 "Olaf"
"Olaf" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 902nd of 7545 | 918 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1664th of 6773 | 332 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2098th of 7552 | 283 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2468th of 10718 | 247 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5110th of 16616 | 139 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5766th of 24088 | 212 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7975th of 23106 | 113 |
Regional Popularity of "Olaf" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
37.71% 534th/1416 |
63.23% 872nd/1379 |
- |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
60.03% 928th/1546 |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
53.89% 1877th/3483 |
- |
40.01% 1618th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
52.49% 3316th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
- | - |
59.31% 4426th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
76.51% 3048th/3984 |
- | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Olaf" 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 "Olaf"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Olaf" 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.