| Rolf | Adolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | famous wolf | noble wolf |
| Origin | germanic | germanic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROLF | AY-dolf |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 1960 (96) | 1918 (56) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Vintage | Vintage |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Rolf | Adolf |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 25 | 0 |
| 2010s | 10 | 0 |
| 2000s | 19 | 0 |
| 1990s | 75 | 5 |
| 1980s | 89 | 12 |
| 1970s | 234 | 43 |
| 1960s | 662 | 87 |
| 1950s | 663 | 82 |
| 1940s | 434 | 75 |
| 1930s | 419 | 208 |
| 1920s | 297 | 393 |
| 1910s | 176 | 358 |
| 1900s | 0 | 63 |
| 1890s | 0 | 38 |
| 1880s | 0 | 30 |
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.
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'.
Rolf and Adolf are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Rolf means famous wolf (germanic origin), while Adolf means noble wolf (germanic origin).
In US records, Rolf first appears in 0 and Adolf in 0, so Rolf has the longer recorded history.