Wulf
A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "wolf".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Wulf. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Wulf today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Wulf births was 2018 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Wulf. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Wulf. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2018
6 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,165
Tracked since 2018
Popularity
Wulf: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Wulf from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wulf 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 Wulf during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Wulf
The given name Wulf originated from the Old Germanic and Old Norse languages, where it was derived from the word "wulf," meaning "wolf." This name gained popularity during the early medieval period, particularly among the Germanic tribes inhabiting various regions of Europe, including modern-day Germany, Scandinavia, and parts of England.
In ancient Germanic folklore and mythology, the wolf held a symbolic significance, often representing strength, courage, and a connection with nature. As a result, the name Wulf became associated with these qualities, making it a popular choice for parents seeking to instill these virtues in their sons.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Wulf can be found in the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," which dates back to the 8th or 9th century. In this work, the character of Wulf appears as a warrior and companion to the legendary hero Beowulf.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Wulf. For instance, Wulf the Chamberlain (c. 1025-1107) was a prominent Norman nobleman who served as a chamberlain to King William the Conqueror and played a significant role in the Norman conquest of England. Another important figure was Wulf of Bamberg (c. 1060-1139), a German bishop and saint who was instrumental in the Christianization of Pomerania.
In the 12th century, Wulf of Aix-la-Chapelle (c. 1150-1218) gained recognition as a renowned architect and sculptor, known for his contributions to the construction of the Aachen Cathedral in modern-day Germany.
During the Renaissance period, Wulf Dietrich von Klengel (1493-1547) was a German humanist and theologian who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation.
Another notable figure bearing the name Wulf was Wulf Isebrand (1608-1671), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his portraiture and genre scenes depicting everyday life in the Netherlands.
While the name Wulf has maintained its presence throughout history, its popularity has varied across different regions and time periods. However, its ancient Germanic roots and association with strength and courage have endured, making it a distinctive and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Wulf + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Wulf as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with W
Other first names starting with W with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Wulf: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Wulf?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Wulf 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Wulf a common name?
We classify Wulf as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Wulf most popular?
The single biggest year for Wulf was 2018, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Wulf is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Wulf in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Wulf a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Wulf 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.
Is Wulf still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Wulf in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Wulf can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Wulf?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.