| Adolf | Rolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | noble wolf | famous wolf |
| Origin | germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AY-dolf | ROLF |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 1918 (56) | 1960 (96) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Vintage | Vintage |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Adolf | Rolf |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 25 |
| 2010s | 0 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 | 19 |
| 1990s | 5 | 75 |
| 1980s | 12 | 89 |
| 1970s | 43 | 234 |
| 1960s | 87 | 662 |
| 1950s | 82 | 663 |
| 1940s | 75 | 434 |
| 1930s | 208 | 419 |
| 1920s | 393 | 297 |
| 1910s | 358 | 176 |
| 1900s | 63 | 0 |
| 1890s | 38 | 0 |
| 1880s | 30 | 0 |
From the Germanic name Athalwolf (Old English Aethelwulf), combining 'athal' ('noble') and 'wulf' ('wolf'), hence 'noble wolf'. The wolf element sits in the final '-olf'.
Contracted form of the Germanic/Old Norse Hrodwulf (Hrolfr), from 'hrod' ('fame') and 'wulf/ulfr' ('wolf'), meaning 'famous wolf'. Shares its root with Rudolph and Raoul.
Adolf and Rolf are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Adolf means noble wolf (germanic origin), while Rolf means famous wolf (germanic origin).
In US records, Adolf first appears in 0 and Rolf in 0, so Adolf has the longer recorded history.