The story behind Olaf
Derived from Old Norse Óláfr.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Polish entry
Derived from Old Norse Óláfr.
Pronunciation
US: /ˈoʊl.əf/
Regional pronunciation variants
- UK: /ˈəʊl.əf/
- UK: /ˈəʊl.æf/
- UK: /ˈəʊl.ɑːf/
- US: /ˈoʊl.æf/
- US: /ˈoʊl.ɑːf/
- Polish: /ˈɔ.laf/
Popularity
Olaf ranked #13369 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Olaf
Olof
From Old Swedish Olāver, Olēf, from Old Norse Óláfr, from Proto-Norse *ᚨᚾᚢᛚᚨᛁᛒᚨᛉ (*anulaibaʀ). First recorded as a given name in Sweden in 1400. Cognate with Norwegian Olav and…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends F
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ólöf
From Old Norse Álǫf.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends F
- same syllable count
- similar length
Oleg
Borrowed from Russian Оле́г (Olég), a Varangian name, ultimately from Old Norse Helgi (“holy, sacred or blessed”). Cognate to modern Scandinavian Helge. Borrowed from Russian…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends G
- same syllable count
- similar length
Olga
Borrowed in the 19th century from Old East Slavic О́льга (Ólĭga), name of a Kievan knyaginya (Saint Olga of Kiev), a medieval form of Helga, Old Norse heilagr (“holy;…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Rådulf
From Old Norse Ráðulfr
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends F
- same syllable count
- similar length
Órækja
From Old Norse Órœkja, probably originally a nickname. From the common noun órækja (“a negligent or slovenly person”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Olaf
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Ai
From Japanese あい (Ai).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Åke
From Old Norse Áki, diminutive of Proto-Norse *ᚨᚾᚢᛉ (*anuʀ, “ancestor”), from Proto-Germanic *anô (as in the first part of the name Olaf). By folk etymology sometimes…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Olaf
Ari
Of the first sense, derives directly from Hebrew: אֲרִי (arí, “lion”); compare Yiddish: לייב (leyb, “Leib”), English: Leo, Leon, French: Léo, Léon, Czech: Lev, Polish: Lew,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends I
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Bond
* As an English occupational surname, from the noun bond, bondman, reinforced by Old Norse bóndi (“peasant, farmer”). Also as a variant of Band. * As a Swedish surname, variant…
- Gender
- neutral
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection