Rolf Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rolf is an Old Norse name meaning 'glorious wolf'. It evolved from the Old Norse 'Rǫlfur' and has historical forms in Old High German and Middle English. The name is characterized by its strong and noble connotations. It does not have biblical relevance. Rolf became popular during the Viking Age and has variants like Rolfus and Rolfson. Today, it carries a traditional and rugged image, with notable figures such as Rolf Harris and Rolf de Heer.
The name Rolf is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Rolf 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, 'Rolf' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1499th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1021st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 920th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1535th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5196th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 14010th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14599th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rolf' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rolf"
Pronunciation
/rɒlf/
Origin
Old Norse
Etymology
The name Rolf is derived from the Old Norse name 'Rǫlfur', which is composed of the elements 'hróðr', meaning 'glory', and 'wulf', meaning 'wolf'.
Meaning
glorious wolf
Language Evolution
Old Norse: Rǫlfur, Old High German: Hruolf, Middle English: Rolf
Historical Usage
Rolf gained popularity in Scandinavia during the Viking Age and later spread to other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany and England.
Variants & Derivatives
Rolfus, Rolfi, Rolfson
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rolf is perceived as a traditional name, often associated with Scandinavian heritage and evokes a strong, rugged image.
Famous People
Rolf Harris, an Australian entertainer and artist, Rolf de Heer, an Australian film director
Explore More Rolf Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rolf"
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 "Rolf"
"Rolf" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1499th of 7545 | 386 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1021st of 6773 | 750 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 920th of 7552 | 1,249 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1535th of 10718 | 509 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5196th of 16616 | 135 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 14010th of 24088 | 38 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 14599th of 23106 | 30 |
Regional Popularity of "Rolf" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
56.78% 804th/1416 |
68.09% 939th/1379 |
- |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
40.82% 631st/1546 |
37.85% 589th/1556 |
- |
51.65% 799th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
29.41% 655th/2227 |
29.30% 712th/2430 |
- |
26.41% 733rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.31% 1272nd/2937 |
39.08% 1361st/3483 |
- |
33.80% 1367th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rolf" 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 "Rolf"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rolf" 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.