Wolf
A surname transferred from the given name.
Every Wolf since 1912 — 1,658 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Wolf
Wolf is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,902 in 2025 with 83 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 1,658 American babies have been named Wolf. Its peak came in 2021, when 107 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Wolf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Wolf year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 83 | #1,902 |
| 2024 | 90 | #1,819 |
| 2023 | 91 | #1,785 |
| 2022 | 100 | #1,703 |
| 2021 | 107 | #1,605 |
| 2020 | 82 | #1,829 |
| 2019 | 87 | #1,788 |
| 2018 | 83 | #1,836 |
| 2017 | 75 | #1,933 |
| 2016 | 67 | #2,109 |
| 2015 | 61 | #2,231 |
| 2014 | 50 | #2,514 |
| 2013 | 53 | #2,399 |
| 2012 | 24 | #4,242 |
| 2011 | 26 | #3,983 |
| 2010 | 29 | #3,706 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3,825 |
| 2008 | 25 | #4,137 |
| 2007 | 23 | #4,366 |
| 2006 | 27 | #3,778 |
| 2005 | 15 | #5,565 |
| 2004 | 14 | #5,800 |
| 2003 | 21 | #4,107 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5,386 |
| 2001 | 19 | #4,299 |
| 2000 | 18 | #4,381 |
| 1995 | 15 | #4,269 |
| 1990 | 9 | #5,804 |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | 8 | #4,302 |
| 1970 | 9 | #3,514 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 15 | #2,207 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | 5 | #4,184 |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Wolf
- Wolf Vostell Painter · 1932–1998
- Wolf Biermann Singer · b. 1936
- Wolf Huber Painter · 1485–1553
- Wolf Messing Religious figure · 1899–1974
- Wolf Blitzer Writer · b. 1948
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Wolf mean?
A surname transferred from the given name.
How popular is the name Wolf in 2025?
Wolf ranked #1,902 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 83 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Wolf?
1,658 babies have been named Wolf in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Wolf most popular?
Wolf peaked in 2021, when 107 newborns received the name.
Is Wolf a boy or girl name?
Wolf is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Wolf rising or falling?
Wolf is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Wolf?
Well-known people named Wolf include Wolf Vostell (painter), Wolf Biermann (singer), Wolf Huber (painter).