Rolf

At a Glance: Name: Rolf – Meaning: famous wolf – Origin: Old Norse (Germanic/Scandinavian) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: RAHLF

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Rolf is a boy's name rooted in Old Norse, part of the Germanic and Scandinavian tradition, and it carries the meaning "famous wolf." It's pronounced RAHLF (IPA /ˈrɑːlf/), and the SSA has been tracking it since 1912, which puts it squarely in the vintage category. If you're after a name with old-world weight and a meaning you can point to, Rolf delivers both.

Meaning & Origin of Rolf

Meaning: Famous wolf.

Origin: Old Norse (Germanic/Scandinavian).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Rolf

Phonetic: RAHLF   IPA: /ˈrɑːlf/

Popularity of Rolf

Rolf hit its high point in 1960, when 97 baby boys were given the name and it ranked #774 nationally. By 2024 it had dropped all the way to #12013 with just 6 babies, based on Social Security data running from 1912 through 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1912–2024.

Make Rolf Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Rolf, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Arnold
• Baldwin
• Bernard
• Conrad
• Ernest
• Ferdinand

FAQ

What does the name Rolf mean?

Famous wolf. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rolf)

How do you pronounce Rolf?

Rolf is pronounced RAHLF (IPA: /ˈrɑːlf/).

Is Rolf a popular name right now?

Rolf peaked at #774 in 1960 and is ranked #12013 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)

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