The nameOlaf
Olaf is a royal Norse name. Most children now know it as the snowman of Frozen.
- Boy's name
- Old Norse
- Feast day
Meaning
Olaf comes from the Old Norse Anleifr, from ano, "ancestor", and leifr, "heir, descendant".
Origin
Old Norse.
History
Saint Olaf, king of Norway, died in battle in 1030 and became the country's patron saint. In the United States Olaf reached 393rd place in 1885. In England and Wales it reached 506th in 2015.
Popularity of the name Olaf
Olaf in the United States
Olaf was most popular in the United States in the 1910s, with 501 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Olaf. Half of all babies named Olaf in the United States were born before 1930, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name.
Olaf in the United Kingdom
Olaf was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 597 births over the decade, 71% of all recorded babies named Olaf. Its rise began around 2006, and it peaked in 2015. Half of all babies named Olaf in the United Kingdom were born before 2014, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 16 births a year on average, against 48 in the five years before.
Olaf in Norway
How many people are named Olaf? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Olaf with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Olaf side by side with the name of your choice.
Olaf in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olaf mean?
Olaf comes from the Old Norse Anleifr, from ano, "ancestor", and leifr, "heir, descendant".
What is the origin of the name Olaf?
Old Norse.
Is Olaf a girl's or a boy's name?
Olaf is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Olaf?
In 2024, Olaf was the 12899th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 5 births.