Rolf
Rolf is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Famous wolf.
Origin and history
Rolf is a traditional Germanic male name derived from the Old High German name Hrolf or Hrodulf, meaning legendary or famous wolf. Though well-known internationally, it has remained a rare given name in the United States, with only a small number of births recorded in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
3,103 babies in the United States have been named Rolf since 1880. It ranks #2315 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1902.
States where it is most popular
- NY (32.9 %)
- MN (21.5 %)
- CA (19.7 %)
- IL (11.6 %)
- WI (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 176 |
| 1920-1930 | 297 |
| 1930-1940 | 419 |
| 1940-1950 | 434 |
| 1950-1960 | 663 |
| 1960-1970 | 662 |
| 1970-1980 | 234 |
| 1980-1990 | 89 |
| 1990-2000 | 75 |
| 2000-2010 | 19 |
| 2010-2019 | 10 |
| 2020-2029 | 25 |
Famous people named Rolf
- Rolf Benirschke: Athlete, Placekicker
Fun facts
- Rolf shares its origins with the Old Norse name Hrólfr, famous in northern legend and history.
- It is a direct Continental Germanic cognate of the common English name Ralph.