Olaf
A male given name from Old Norse.
Every Olaf since 1880 — 2,531 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Olaf Tryggvason Politician · 963–1000
- Olaf II of Norway Politician · 993–1030
- Olaf II of Denmark Politician · 1370–1387
- Olaf III of Norway Politician · 1050–1093
- Olaf I of Denmark Politician · 1050–1095
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 Tryggvason (politician), Olaf II of Norway (politician), Olaf II of Denmark (politician).