Adolph: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Adolph

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1917

681 babies

All-time total

18,765

#859 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Adolph popularity over time

18,765 babies have been named Adolph 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

BoysGirls

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	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	994	994	99	–	#112
1890s	–	945	945	95	-5%	#126
1900s	–	941	941	94	0%	#180
1910s	8	4,523	4,531	453	+382%	#178
1920s	5	4,471	4,476	448	-1%	#241
1930s	7	2,189	2,196	220	-51%	#320
1940s	–	1,261	1,261	126	-43%	#436
1950s	–	1,368	1,368	137	+8%	#571
1960s	–	826	826	83	-40%	#651
1970s	–	518	518	52	-37%	#926
1980s	–	334	334	33	-36%	#1,448
1990s	–	215	215	22	-36%	#2,176
2000s	–	93	93	9	-57%	#4,787
2010s	–	48	48	5	-48%	#8,777
2020s (to 2025)	–	19	19	3	-34%	#9,002

The story of Adolph

Adolph 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, 18,765 American babies have been named Adolph. Its peak came in 1917, when 681 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 Adolph stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Adolph?

The median living Adolph is about 66 years old; half are between 52 and 76. An estimated 3,900 people named Adolph 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.

Adolph year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	5	#12,279
2022	–	–	8	#9,002
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	6	#10,630
2019	–	–	5	#12,177
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	6	#10,804
2016	–	–	7	#9,686
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	8	#8,795
2013	–	–	7	#9,672
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	8	#8,777
2010	–	–	7	#9,712
2009	–	–	5	#12,526
2008	–	–	7	#9,885
2007	–	–	12	#6,629
2006	–	–	11	#6,911
2005	–	–	7	#9,130
2004	–	–	9	#7,547
2003	–	–	8	#7,850
2002	–	–	7	#8,464
2001	–	–	12	#5,672
2000	–	–	15	#4,787
1995	–	–	21	#3,192
1990	–	–	27	#2,488
1985	–	–	20	#2,504
1980	–	–	39	#1,547
1975	–	–	45	#1,280
1970	–	–	74	#926
1965	–	–	68	#890
1960	–	–	143	#651
1955	–	–	151	#599
1950	–	–	141	#571
1945	–	–	116	#554
1940	–	–	176	#436
1935	–	–	195	#390
1930	7	#3,660	297	#320
1925	–	–	424	#279
1920	–	–	522	#241
1915	–	–	637	#178
1910	–	–	122	#210
1905	–	–	86	#201
1900	–	–	117	#180
1895	–	–	86	#182
1890	–	–	102	#138
1885	–	–	102	#133
1880	–	–	93	#145

Famous people named Adolph

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

1 Adolph Zukor Hungarian-American film producer (1873–1976) 19th century
2 Adolph Menzel German artist (1815–1905) 19th century
3 Adolph Joffe Russian revolutionary, politician and Soviet diplomat 1883–1927 · 19th century
4 Adolph Freiherr Knigge German writer and leading Illuminati member (1752–1796) 18th century
5 Adolph Gottlieb American abstract expressionist painter, sculptor and printmaker (1903–1974) Contemporary
6 Adolph John I, Count Palatine of Kleeburg Count Palatine of Kleeburg 1629–1689 · 17th century
7 Adolph Deutsch British-American composer, conductor and arranger 1897–1980 · 19th century
8 Adolph Kolping German Catholic priest (1813–1865) 19th century
9 Adolph Tidemand Norwegian painter 1814–1876 · 19th century
10 Adolph Wagner German economist and politician 1835–1917 · 19th century
11 Adolph Kiefer American swimming 1936 Olympic medalist 1918–2017 · Contemporary
12 Adolph Strecker German chemist (1822–1871) 19th century
13 Adolph Diesterweg German educator and philosopher 1790–1866 · 18th century
14 Adolph Frank German chemist (1834–1916) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Adolph?

The median living Adolph is about 66 years old. Half of all living Adolphs are between 52 and 76 years old.

How many people named Adolph are alive today?

An estimated 3,900 people named Adolph are alive in the United States, based on 18,765 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Adolph mean?

A male given name from the Germanic languages.

How popular is the name Adolph in 2025?

Adolph 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 Adolph?

18,765 babies have been named Adolph in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Adolph most popular?

Adolph peaked in 1917, when 681 newborns received the name.

Is Adolph a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Adolph rising or falling?

Adolph is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Adolph?

Well-known people named Adolph include Adolph Zukor (film director), Adolph Menzel (artist), Adolph Joffe (politician).

Names like Adolph

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

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