Wolf
Wolf is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Wolf (the animal); derived from Proto-Germanic *wulfaz.
Origin and history
Wolf originates as a Germanic given name and vocabulary word referring to the wild canine, historically used as a standalone name or a short form of names like Wolfgang. It has seen a modest surge in popularity in the United States in recent years as parents favor nature-inspired and bold single-syllable names. While historically rare in the U.S., it has gained renewed modern visibility.
Popularity in the United States
1,658 babies in the United States have been named Wolf since 1880. It ranks #3114 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1388.
States where it is most popular
- NY (56.9 %)
- CA (27.6 %)
- FL (6 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- MA (1.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 60 |
| 1960-1970 | 42 |
| 1970-1980 | 64 |
| 1980-1990 | 48 |
| 1990-2000 | 127 |
| 2000-2010 | 204 |
| 2010-2019 | 555 |
| 2020-2029 | 553 |
Famous people named Wolf
- Wolf Blitzer: Journalist, News Anchor
Fun facts
- Wolf was historically used both as an independent name and a protective element in Germanic compound names like Wolfgang or Wolfram.
- The name has experienced a modern revival in the U.S. alongside other nature-inspired animal names like Bear and Fox.