Adolf: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Adolf

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1918

56 babies

All-time total

1,394

#4,163 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Adolf popularity over time

1,394 babies have been named Adolf since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	30	3	–	#765
1890s	38	4	+27%	#599
1900s	63	6	+66%	#852
1910s	358	36	+468%	#840
1920s	393	39	+10%	#950
1930s	208	21	-47%	#1,133
1940s	75	8	-64%	#1,472
1950s	82	8	+9%	#2,416
1960s	87	9	+6%	#2,409
1970s	43	4	-51%	#3,072
1980s	12	1	-72%	#4,921
1990s	5	1	-58%	#8,134
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

The story of Adolf

Adolf is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 1,394 American babies have been named Adolf. Its peak came in 1918, when 56 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Adolf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Adolf?

The median living Adolf is about 66 years old; half are between 57 and 77. An estimated 300 people named Adolf are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Adolf year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	5	#8,134
1985	–	–
1980	5	#6,261
1975	6	#4,802
1970	10	#3,072
1965	10	#2,619
1960	12	#2,423
1955	10	#2,559
1950	9	#2,582
1945	7	#2,744
1940	21	#1,472
1935	16	#1,757
1930	38	#1,133
1925	40	#1,108
1920	46	#1,020
1915	45	#925
1910	11	#982
1905	–	–
1900	8	#969
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	7	#765
1880	6	#809

Famous people named Adolf

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Adolf Hitler Dictator of Germany from 1933 to 1945 1889–1945 · 19th century
2 Adolf Eichmann German SS officer and war criminal (1906–1962) Contemporary
3 Adolf Dassler Founder of Adidas (1900–1978) Contemporary
4 Adolf Galland German World War II flying ace and general 1912–1996 · Contemporary
5 Adolf Heusinger German military officer (1897–1982) 19th century
6 Adolf Loos Austrian and Czechoslovak architect and theorist of modern architecture 1870–1933 · 19th century
7 Adolf Anderssen German chess player (1818–1879) 19th century
8 Adolf Wölfli Swiss artist (1864–1930) 19th century
9 Adolf von Baeyer German chemist (1835–1917) 19th century
10 Adolf von Harnack Baltic German theologian and church historian (1851–1930) 19th century
11 Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp 16th Century Duke of Holstein-Gottorp 1526–1586 · 16th century
12 Adolf Strauss German Wehrmacht general (1879–1973) 19th century
13 Adolf Windaus German chemist (1876–1959) 19th century
14 Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld Finland-Swedish baron, geologist and explorer (1832–1901) 19th century
15 Adolf Butenandt German biochemist (1903–1995) Contemporary
16 Adolf Schärf President of Austria from 1957 to 1965 1890–1965 · 19th century
17 Adolf Hurwitz German mathematician (1859–1919) 19th century
18 Adolf Bastian Early German anthropologist 1826–1905 · 19th century
19 Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden King of Sweden from 1751 to 1771 1710–1771 · 18th century
20 Adolf Eugen Fick German physicist and physiologist (1829–1901) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Adolf, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Adolf?

The median living Adolf is about 66 years old. Half of all living Adolfs are between 57 and 77 years old.

How many people named Adolf are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Adolf are alive in the United States, based on 1,394 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Adolf mean?

Adolf is a given name with German origins.

How popular is the name Adolf in 2025?

Adolf did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Adolf?

1,394 babies have been named Adolf in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Adolf most popular?

Adolf peaked in 1918, when 56 newborns received the name.

Is Adolf a boy or girl name?

Adolf is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Adolf rising or falling?

Adolf has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Adolf?

Well-known people named Adolf include Adolf Hitler (politician), Adolf Eichmann (military personnel), Adolf Dassler (businessperson).

Names like Adolf

Names that sound and feel close to Adolf: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Adolf with similar names → More names starting with A →