Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1916

Olaf

Meaning A male given name from Old Norse Gender Boy Rank 2025 #13,369

A male given name from Old Norse.

Rank 2025
#13,369
among boys · ↑329 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
5
named Olaf
How common
1 in 341,615
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1916
79 babies
All-time total
2,531
#2,847 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Olaf popularity over time

2,531 babies have been named Olaf 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
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1885Boys

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 149 15 – #393
1890s 124 12 -17% #466
1900s 126 13 +2% #534
1910s 501 50 +298% #665
1920s 357 36 -29% #1,000
1930s 190 19 -47% #1,297
1940s 137 14 -28% #1,736
1950s 142 14 +4% #1,788
1960s 175 18 +23% #1,684
1970s 148 15 -15% #1,975
1980s 79 8 -47% #3,380
1990s 98 10 +24% #3,422
2000s 137 14 +40% #4,496
2010s 133 13 -3% #4,494
2020s (to 2025) 35 6 -56% #10,302

The story of Olaf

Olaf is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,369 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 2,531 American babies have been named Olaf. Its peak came in 1916, when 79 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 Olaf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Olaf?

The median living Olaf is about 46 years old; half are between 20 and 63. An estimated 1,000 people named Olaf are alive in the United States today.

median 46 020406080100

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

Olaf year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 5 #13,369
2024 5 #13,698
2023 5 #13,614
2022 6 #11,919
2021 7 #10,492
2020 7 #10,302
2019 9 #8,685
2018 7 #10,435
2017 8 #9,457
2016 10 #7,997
2015 18 #5,220
2014 22 #4,494
2013 9 #8,582
2012 15 #5,908
2011 15 #5,873
2010 20 #4,799
2009 17 #5,481
2008 22 #4,496
2007 13 #6,516
2006 19 #4,812
2005 18 #4,780
2004 6 #10,952
2003 11 #6,599
2002 13 #5,642
2001 11 #6,320
2000 7 #8,866
1995 8 #6,815
1990 9 #5,695
1985 5 #7,291
1980 13 #3,380
1975 21 #2,184
1970 21 #1,975
1965 14 #2,238
1960 18 #1,958
1955 15 #2,112
1950 12 #2,290
1945 15 #1,834
1940 13 #2,059
1935 19 #1,639
1930 31 #1,297
1925 38 #1,162
1920 43 #1,084
1915 71 #697
1910 14 #850
1905 8 #982
1900 8 #1,024
1895 11 #664
1890 14 #528
1885 21 #393
1880 11 #592

Famous people named Olaf

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

  1. 1 Olaf Scholz Olaf Scholz Chancellor of Germany from 2021 to 2025 b. 1958 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Olaf Tryggvason Olaf Tryggvason King of Norway from 995 to 1000 963–1000 · Medieval
  3. 3 Olaf II of Norway Olaf II of Norway King of Norway from 1015 to 1028 993–1030 · Medieval
  4. 4 Olaf II of Denmark Olaf II of Denmark King of Denmark, Norway (1370–1387) Medieval
  5. 5 Olaf Stapledon Olaf Stapledon English novelist and philosopher (1886–1950) 19th century
  6. 6 Olaf Tufte Olaf Tufte Norwegian rower (1976–2026) Contemporary
  7. 7 Olaf III of Norway Olaf III of Norway King of Norway from 1067 to 1093 1050–1093 · Medieval
  8. 8 Olaf Kölzig Olaf Kölzig German ice hockey player (born 1970) Contemporary
  9. 9 Olaf Thon Olaf Thon German footballer (born 1966) Contemporary
  10. 10 Olaf Guthfrithson 10th-century King of Dublin 900–941 · Medieval
  11. 11 Olaf I of Denmark Olaf I of Denmark King of Denmark from 1086 to 1095 1050–1095 · Medieval
  12. 12 Olaf Marschall Olaf Marschall German footballer (born 1966) Contemporary
  13. 13 Olaf Ludwig Olaf Ludwig East German racing cyclist b. 1960 · Contemporary
  14. 14 Olaf Bull Olaf Bull Norwegian poet 1883–1933 · 19th century
  15. 15 Olaf Zinke Olaf Zinke German speed skater b. 1966 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Olaf?

The median living Olaf is about 46 years old. Half of all living Olafs are between 20 and 63 years old.

How many people named Olaf are alive today?

An estimated 1,000 people named Olaf are alive in the United States, based on 2,531 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Olaf mean?

A male given name from Old Norse.

How popular is the name Olaf in 2025?

Olaf ranked #13,369 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Olaf?

2,531 babies have been named Olaf in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Olaf most popular?

Olaf peaked in 1916, when 79 newborns received the name.

Is Olaf a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Olaf rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Olaf?

Well-known people named Olaf include Olaf Scholz (politician), Olaf Tryggvason (politician), Olaf II of Norway (politician).

Names like Olaf

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

Compare Olaf with similar names → More names starting with O →