Given name & surname
Wolf
“wolf”
Wolf is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “wolf.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “wolf.”
Where it comes from
In German and Jewish use, Wolf is a short form of Wolfram. An origin associated with Wolfram is Germanic. Wolf is a variant of Wolfe. An origin associated with Wolfe is English. Wolf shares an earlier linguistic root with Ulf. An origin associated with Ulf is Old Norse.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In German usage, Wolf is a diminutive of Wolfgang. Wolf is a short form of Wolfgang.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German and Jewish use, Wolf is a short form of Wolfram. The history of Wolfram gives this family its wider story. Wolfram’s historical associations include the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Wolf through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,658
- 1,658 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 107 babies
- 2025
- 83
- #1,902 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +20%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 83 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,902 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (14). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,548 as a first name in 2020; 69,917 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.
Wolf’s family of names
In German usage, Wolf is a diminutive of Wolfgang. Wolf shares a linguistic root with Ulf. In German usage, Wolf has a related form in Vuk.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Wolf has relatives in 8 languages.
16 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Wolfgangfull form · German
- Wolfevariant · English
- Vukvariant · German
- Wulfvariant · German
- Wolframfull form
- Ulfvariant · German
- Wolffvariant · German
- Wölflevariant · German
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Across languages 20
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Wolf
- Wolf VostellGerman painter and sculptor (1932–1998)
- Wolf MessingRussian clairovoyant, telepathist, hypnotist, occultist (1899-1974)
- Wolf HoffmannGerman heavy metal guitaristborn 1959
- Wolf BlitzerAmerican journalist and television news anchor (born 1948)
- Wolf HuberGerman painter and architect. (c.1485-1553)
- Wolf Albach-RettyAustrian actor (1906-1967)
- Wolf KahlerGerman actor (born 1940)
- Wolf HaasAustrian writerborn 1960
- Wolf ErlbruchGerman illustrator and writer (1948–2022)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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