Given name & surname
Folke
“of the people”·“a guardian of the people”
Folke is a variant of Fulke. One English interpretation is “of the people.” Folke is a variant of Folker. One German interpretation is “a guardian of the people.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Folke is a variant of Fulke. One English interpretation is “of the people.” Folke is a variant of Folker. One German interpretation is “a guardian of the people.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old Norse.
How it developed
Folke is a short form of Falkor.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Folke through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5
- 5 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1913
- 5 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1913. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 135 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Folke’s family of names
Folke is a short form of Falkor. In Swedish usage, Folke shares a linguistic root with the Italian form FOLCO. Folke has a related form in Folker.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Folke has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Folke
- Folke BernadotteSwedish diplomat (1895–1948)
- Ronnie HellströmSwedish association football goalkeeper (1949–2022)
- Folke RogardSwedish lawyer and chess official (1899-1973)
- Folke SundquistSwedish actor (1925-2009)
- Folke AlnevikSwedish sprinter (1919–2020)
- Folke Frölénequestrian (1908–2002)
- Folke Wassénsailor (1918–1969)
- Bengt BengtssonSwedish Army officer and gymnast (1897–1977)
- Folke JanssonSwedish triple jumper (1897-1965)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Folke, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sverre
“to swing around, spin; move violently” · “troublemaker; wild, restless person”
>99% boys
Helge
“a holy woman; one who is successful” · “one who is productive and happy”
>99% boys
Other
Other is a masculine given name from Old Norse.
>99% boys
Olaf
“the last of the ancestors”
>99% boys
Holger
“island” · “spear”
>99% boys
Hilding
“ruler, war chief”
>99% boys
Bror
“brother”
>99% boys
Pringle
“enclosed valley”
>99% boys