Find out how popular the first name Wolfgang has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Wolfgang by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Wolfgang is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 142 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Wolfgang.

The history of the first name Wolfgang

The name Wolfgang originates from the Germanic languages, specifically Old High German. It is a compound name, formed by combining the elements "wolf" (meaning wolf) and "gang" (meaning path or journey). The name can be interpreted as "traveling wolf" or "wolf path."

In ancient Germanic cultures, wolves were revered for their strength, cunning, and hunting skills. The wolf symbolized qualities such as loyalty, perseverance, and protection. Naming a child Wolfgang was seen as bestowing these desirable traits upon them.

The earliest recorded use of the name Wolfgang dates back to the 8th century AD. One of the first notable individuals with this name was Wolfgang of Regensburg, a 10th-century German bishop and saint. Born around 934 AD, he was renowned for his missionary work in modern-day Austria and Hungary.

Another prominent figure named Wolfgang was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the renowned 18th-century Austrian composer. Born in 1756, Mozart is widely considered one of the greatest composers of all time, renowned for his operas, concertos, and symphonies.

In the realm of literature, Wolfgang von Goethe, born in 1749, was a German writer, poet, and statesman. He is best known for his seminal work "Faust," a tragic play that explores themes of human existence and the pursuit of knowledge.

Moving into the 20th century, Wolfgang Pauli, born in 1900, was an influential Austrian physicist and Nobel laureate. He made significant contributions to quantum mechanics and is renowned for the Pauli exclusion principle, which explains the behavior of fermions.

Lastly, Wolfgang Puck, born in 1949, is an Austrian-American celebrity chef and restaurateur. He is credited with popularizing California-style cuisine and has built a successful culinary empire, including his flagship restaurant Spago in Los Angeles.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Wolfgang throughout history, each leaving their mark in fields ranging from religion and music to literature, science, and culinary arts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Wolfgang was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wolfgang, please contact us.

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