The first name Gandalf
A boy’s name meaning “elf familiar”.
Pronounced /ˈɡændɑlf/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Gandalf means “elf familiar”.
From Old Norse mythology Gandalfr (“elf familiar”). It may be reinforced by various similar names in Medieval Latin, like a few saints and clergymen.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Gandalf at birth, 1880–2025
In 1970, 5 boys born in the United States were named Gandalf, the 4,974th most popular boys’ name that year.
5
babies named Gandalf since 1880
#4,974
rank in 1970
1970
peak year
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Gandalf in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Գենդալֆ
Gendalf
Armenian
Гандалф
Gandalf
Bulgarian
甘道夫
Gāndàofū
Chinese
גנדאלף
Hebrew, also גאנדלף, גנדלף
ガンダルフ
Gandarufu
Japanese
Гэ́ндальф
Gɛ́ndalʹf
Russian
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Gundulf
- Gundulph
Questions
- What does the name Gandalf mean?
- Gandalf means “elf familiar”.
- When was Gandalf most popular?
- 1970 in the United States, when 5 babies were named Gandalf, its highest rank at 4,974th.
- How do you pronounce Gandalf?
- Gandalf is /ˈɡændɑlf/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Gandalf?
- Gundulf and Gundulph.