Olaf
Boy name · Old Norse · Scandinavian
Meaningancestor's heir · Old Norse
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #388 in 1885
5 babies were named Olaf in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,454 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Olaf you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Olaf
Olaf Stapledon
British novelist and philosopher (1886–1950)
Choose Olaf and your child shares a first name with Olaf Stapledon, a British novelist and philosopher. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Olaf, like who?” Olaf Stapledon's Wikipedia article is available in 51 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Olaf Stapledon on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Olaf, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Olaf would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryOlaf has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Olafs, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1885, when it ranked #388. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendOlaf has slipped 2,454 places over the last five years and now sits at #12,008. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn Old Norse, Olaf means “ancestor's heir”. Our records link it to Old Norse and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Olaf
Olaf is a boy name of Old Norse and Scandinavian origin meaning “ancestor's heir”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with O and ending in “-laf”. US birth records list Olaf for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1885, when it ranked #388 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:Old Norse namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 136 | 7,352 boys |
| 1890s | 109 | 9,171 boys |
| 1900s | 92 | 10,828 boys |
| 1910s | 76 | 13,193 boys |
| 1920s | 32 | 30,845 boys |
| 1930s | 18 | 55,679 boys |
| 1940s | 9.5 | 105,485 boys |
| 1950s | 7.0 | 142,450 boys |
| 1960s | 9.1 | 109,409 boys |
| 1970s | 8.9 | 112,108 boys |
| 1980s | 4.3 | 230,947 boys |
| 1990s | 5.0 | 199,203 boys |
| 2000s | 6.8 | 145,985 boys |
| 2010s | 7.0 | 142,045 boys |
| 2020s | 3.4 | 297,030 boys |
More Old Norse boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Eric · eternal ruler
- Boy name: Ronald · ruler with counsel
- Boy name: Bjorn · bear
- Unisex name: Beck · stream
- Boy name: Leif · heir, descendant
- Boy name: Sven · young man
- Boy name: Ramsay · wild garlic island
Questions about the name Olaf
What does the name Olaf mean?
Olaf means “ancestor's heir” in Old Norse.
What is the origin of the name Olaf?
Olaf has Old Norse, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other Old Norse names include Oliver, Eric, Ronald.
Is Olaf a boy or girl name?
Olaf is a boy name.
How popular is the name Olaf?
Olaf ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1885 (#388).