Rolfe Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ROLF /rɒlf/
Origin: Old Norse; Germanic
Meaning: Old Norse: 'famous wolf'; Germanic: 'wolf'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rolfe has its roots in Old Norse, deriving from the name Rǫlf, which is composed of the elements 'hróðr' meaning 'fame' and 'ulfr' meaning 'wolf.' This name was introduced to England by the Norse settlers during the Viking Age, particularly in the 9th and 10th centuries. The transition into English occurred through the Old Norse form, which evolved into various spellings, including Rolf and Rolfe, as it was assimilated into the Anglo-Saxon culture and language.
Historically, the name Rolfe is associated with notable figures, including Rolfe of Norfolk, a significant character in medieval England, who was documented in the 13th century. The name gained further prominence through the figure of John Rolfe, an English settler in the early 17th century, who is best known for his marriage to Pocahontas, a Native American woman, which symbolized a moment of cultural exchange and reconciliation in colonial America.
This marriage was significant enough to be recorded in various historical texts and has been referenced in literature and popular culture. Culturally, the name Rolfe carries connotations of strength and valor, reflecting the characteristics of the wolf, which has been a symbol of loyalty and bravery in various cultures.
The name has also been linked to nobility and leadership, often associated with figures in literature and history who embody these traits. Diminutive forms such as Rolf have also been used, although Rolfe remains the more recognized variant in English-speaking contexts.
Overall, the name Rolfe encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, marking its place in both historical and literary narratives.
Famous people named Rolfe
In this section, you will find notable people named Rolfe. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rolfe who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rolfe who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Rolfe Kent is a composer best known for Sideways, Legally Blonde, and About Schmidt.
Rolfe Schneider is a German artist best known for his contemporary sculptures and installations.
Fictional characters named Rolfe
The following list of fictional characters named Rolfe is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Rolfe is a fictional character from the musical The Sound of Music. He is a charming telegram delivery boy who has a romantic interest in Liesl von Trapp.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rolfe, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rolfe. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rolfe was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Rolfe has ranked as high as #1059 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Rolfe has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rolfe is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rolfe was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rolfe
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rolfe.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1974 | 5 |
| 1971 | 6 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1965 | 11 |
| 1964 | 5 |
| 1963 | 7 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 7 |
| 1959 | 10 |
| 1958 | 11 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 20 |
| 1954 | 15 |
| 1953 | 16 |
| 1952 | 16 |
| 1951 | 18 |
| 1950 | 16 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1948 | 7 |
| 1947 | 10 |
| 1946 | 10 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 17 |
| 1943 | 7 |
| 1942 | 12 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 12 |
| 1939 | 17 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1936 | 11 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1933 | 11 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 12 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 12 |
| 1924 | 9 |
| 1922 | 8 |
| 1920 | 15 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1912 | 6 |