Adolf

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Adolf

Pronounced AY-dolf /ˈeɪ.dɒlf/Medium

Meaning: Adolf is an old Germanic name from adal ('noble') and wulf ('wolf'), so 'noble wolf'; a long-established European name whose modern history is marked by its association with Adolf Hitler.High

In 30 seconds: Adolf is Germanic for 'noble wolf' — adal plus wolf (said 'AY-dolf'). A long-standing European name with a sharp modern decline.

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Origin HighGerman

MeaningAdolf is an old Germanic name from adal ('noble') and wulf ('wolf'), so 'noble wolf'; a long-established European name whose modern history is marked by its association with Adolf Hitler.

U.S. rank (1990)#8132 ↘ Falling

1990 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,394

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Adolf comes from Germanic adal ('noble') and wulf ('wolf'), 'noble wolf'. Once common across German-speaking Europe and among immigrants, it was borne by kings, saints, and scholars.

In the U.S. it saw genuine early-twentieth-century use, cresting around the First World War, before falling sharply from mid-century onward; today it is very rare, and the related Adolph is also uncommon.

Did you know? Adolf was an ordinary, well-used Germanic name for centuries; its steep fall in the U.S. after the nineteen-thirties and forties is tied to its association with Adolf Hitler and the Second World War.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Adolf — etymology, Germanic adal + wulfReferences — Adolf — European name history

Variations

AdolphAdolpheAdolfo

Nicknames

Dolf

Famous Bearers

★Adolf Anderssen (1818–1879)
German chess master regarded as one of the leading players of the mid-nineteenth century.

If you like Adolf…

Adolph— the common English spelling of the same name

Rudolf— a like Germanic -olf name, 'famous wolf'

Rudolph— the English form sharing the -olf ending

Albie— a similarly popular pick

Alvan— a fellow German choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Adolf mean?

Adolf is a Germanic name meaning 'noble wolf', from adal ('noble') and wulf ('wolf').

How do you pronounce Adolf?

It's said AY-dolf /ˈeɪ.dɒlf/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Adolf a boy or girl name?

Adolf is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Adolf?

Adolf was a well-used name in the early twentieth century but became very rare after the mid-century.