The first name Rolf
A boy’s name.
Pronounced /ɹɒlf/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Old Norse Hrólfr, and from its Old French equivalent, cognates of Rudolph. Brought to England by the Normans, survived in surnames and was revived in the 19th century, partly due to its modern Scandinavian cognate.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rolf at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 5 boys born in the United States were named Rolf, the 13,496th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1960, when 96 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.
Famous people named Rolf
64 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Rolf NevanlinnaFinnish mathematician (1895–1980) known for his research in complex analysis
- Rolf HarrisAustralian entertainer (1930–2023)
- Rolf DannebergGerman discus thrower, born 1953
- Rolf SingerGerman mycologist (1906–1994)
- Rolf SørensenDanish cyclist, born 1965
- Rolf HoppeGerman actor (1930–2018)
- Rolf RüssmannGerman footballer (1950-2009)
- Rolf CarlsGerman admiral (1885–1945)
- Rolf LandauerAmerican-German physicist, engineer (1927-1999)
- Rolf ZacherGerman actor (1941–2018)
- Rolf GölzGerman cyclist, born 1962
- Rolf SaxonAmerican actor, born 1955
Questions
- What does the name Rolf mean?
- From Old Norse Hrólfr, and from its Old French equivalent, cognates of Rudolph. Brought to England by the Normans, survived in surnames and was revived in the 19th century, partly due to its modern Scandinavian cognate.
- Is Rolf a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 3,103 US babies named Rolf since 1880 were boys.
- When was Rolf most popular?
- 1960 in the United States, when 96 babies were named Rolf, its highest rank at 781st.
- How do you pronounce Rolf?
- Rolf is /ɹɒlf/, one syllable.
- Is Rolf also a surname?
- Yes. Rolf is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.