Rolf
From Old Norse Hrólfr, and from its Old French equivalent, cognates of Rudolph.
Every Rolf since 1912 — 3,103 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rolf
Rolf is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #13,496 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 3,103 American babies have been named Rolf. Its peak came in 1960, when 96 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
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 Rolf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rolf 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 | #13,496 |
| 2024 | 6 | #12,064 |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | 8 | #9,662 |
| 2021 | — | — |
| 2020 | 6 | #11,734 |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — |
| 2017 | 5 | #13,849 |
| 2016 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | 5 | #13,659 |
| 2013 | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | 9 | #7,706 |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | 5 | #11,943 |
| 2000 | 5 | #11,777 |
| 1995 | 7 | #7,638 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7,922 |
| 1985 | 10 | #4,284 |
| 1980 | 10 | #4,072 |
| 1975 | 14 | #2,879 |
| 1970 | 36 | #1,413 |
| 1965 | 65 | #925 |
| 1960 | 96 | #781 |
| 1955 | 70 | #891 |
| 1950 | 43 | #1,083 |
| 1945 | 56 | #844 |
| 1940 | 39 | #1,048 |
| 1935 | 41 | #1,008 |
| 1930 | 41 | #1,092 |
| 1925 | 32 | #1,296 |
| 1920 | 13 | #2,432 |
| 1915 | 23 | #1,447 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Rolf
- Rolf Maximilian Sievert Physicist · 1896–1966
- Rolf M. Zinkernagel Physician · b. 1944
- Rolf Hochhuth Writer · 1931–2020
- Rolf Stommelen Racing driver · 1943–1983
- Rolf Carls Military personnel · 1885–1945
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rolf mean?
From Old Norse Hrólfr, and from its Old French equivalent, cognates of Rudolph.
How popular is the name Rolf in 2025?
Rolf ranked #13,496 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 Rolf?
3,103 babies have been named Rolf in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rolf most popular?
Rolf peaked in 1960, when 96 newborns received the name.
Is Rolf a boy or girl name?
Rolf is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Rolf rising or falling?
Rolf is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rolf?
Well-known people named Rolf include Rolf Maximilian Sievert (physicist), Rolf M. Zinkernagel (physician), Rolf Hochhuth (writer).