Adolfo
Adolfo is a masculine Spanish name meaning "noble wolf".
Name Census estimates that about 13,506 living Americans carry the first name Adolfo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Adolfo today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Adolfo births was 2003 (505 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Adolfo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
14K
~ 1 in 25,378 Americans
Peak year
2003
505 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,636
Tracked since 1882
Gender
Gender distribution for Adolfo
Out of the 16,122 babies given the name Adolfo since 1880, 99.9% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Adolfo as a male name
- Ranked #1,636 in 2024
- 103 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (505 births)
Adolfo as a female name
- Ranked #11,334 in 1987
- 5 female births in 1987
- Peak: 1986 (5 births)
Popularity
Adolfo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Adolfo from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 3,912 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Adolfo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Adolfo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Adolfos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 29 states and territories. Texas, California, Illinois recorded the most babies named Adolfo, while South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 463 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Adolfo
The name Adolfo has its origins in the Germanic languages, deriving from the Old High German "Athalwolf" or "Adaulf". It combines the elements "athalu" meaning "noble" and "wulf" meaning "wolf". The name essentially means "noble wolf" and symbolizes strength, courage, and leadership qualities.
As the Germanic tribes migrated and interacted with other cultures, the name Adolfo became widely adopted and adapted across various regions. In the Latin-speaking world, it evolved into the form "Adolphus" or "Adolfus". The name gained prominence during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions like modern-day Italy, Spain, and France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Adolfo can be found in the 9th century, referring to a Frankish nobleman named Adolphus of Ferrieres. He was an influential advisor to the Carolingian rulers and played a significant role in the political affairs of that era.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Adolfo. One of the most famous was Adolfo Hidalgo (1614-1690), a Spanish military leader and governor of Cuba. He is renowned for his successful defense of Havana against the English forces during the Anglo-Spanish War.
Another prominent individual was Adolfo Suarez (1932-2014), a Spanish politician who served as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Spain after the Franco dictatorship. He played a crucial role in the country's transition to democracy and is highly regarded for his leadership during that pivotal period.
In the realm of literature, Adolfo Becquer (1836-1870) was a renowned Spanish Romantic poet and playwright. His works, such as "Rimas y Leyendas" (Rhymes and Legends), are considered masterpieces of Spanish poetry and have left a lasting impact on the literary world.
The name Adolfo has also been associated with royalty. Adolfo of Nassau (1817-1905) was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1890 until his death. He played a significant role in establishing Luxembourg's independence and strengthening its sovereignty.
In the field of science, Adolfo Stahl (1805-1886) was a prominent Mexican chemist and physician. He made important contributions to the understanding of the chemistry of sugars and is considered a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Adolfo throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence across various cultures and spheres of influence.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Adolfo
People
Adolfo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Adolfo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Adolfo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Adolfo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13,506 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Adolfo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 25,378 US residents.
Is Adolfo a common name?
We classify Adolfo as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16,122 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Adolfo most popular?
The single biggest year for Adolfo was 2003, when 505 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Adolfo is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Adolfo a male name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Adolfo in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.