The first name Olaf
A boy’s name from Norse.
Pronounced /ˈoʊl.əf/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Norse origin
Derived from Old Norse Óláfr.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 9 boys were named Olaf, making it the 2,440th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 76 births (#506).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Olaf with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Olaf at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Olaf, the 13,369th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1916, when 79 were.
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.
Olaf in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Olaf in Danish, Dutch, German and Polish too.
Famous people named Olaf
30 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Olaf StapledonBritish novelist and philosopher (1886–1950)
- Olaf ThonGerman association football player and manager, born 1966
- Olaf MarschallGerman association football player and manager (1966–)
- Olaf LudwigEast German racing cyclist, born 1960
- Olaf KölzigGerman ice hockey player, born 1970
- Erwin OlafDutch photographer, 1959–2023 (1959–2023)
- Olaf III Guthfrithson10th-century King of Dublin, 900–941
- Olaf Cuaran10th century Norse king of Northumbria and Dublin, 1000–981
- Olaf FörsterEast German rower, born 1962
- Olaf HeukrodtEast German canoe racer, born 1962
- Olaf HampelGerman bobsledder, born 1965
- Olaf FønssDanish actor (1882-1949)
More Norse boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Olaf mean?
- Derived from Old Norse Óláfr.
- What is the origin of the name Olaf?
- Derived from Old Norse Óláfr.
- How popular is the name Olaf?
- In 2025, 9 boys born in England and Wales were named Olaf, ranking 2,440th. Its peak was 2015, with 76 births.
- Is Olaf a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,531 US babies named Olaf since 1880 were boys.
- When was Olaf most popular?
- 1916 in the United States, when 79 babies were named Olaf, its highest rank at 669th.
- How do you pronounce Olaf?
- Olaf is /ˈoʊl.əf/, 2 syllables.