name
Uncommon
Adolf
Adolf (name) means a masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Adolph. Example: “The name Adolf fell sharply out of use after World War II.”
name
1
A masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Adolph.
"The name Adolf fell sharply out of use after World War II."
How to use Adolf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA German man's first name, historically common but now rarely used because of its association with Adolf Hitler.
Common mistake
The name's popularity collapsed after WWII; it is almost never given to children today outside of historical or family-tradition contexts.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Adolfs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The name _____ fell sharply out of use after World War II.
Etymology
From Old High German adal ("noble") plus wulf ("wolf") — literally "noble wolf."
Frequently asked questions
What does “Adolf” mean?
The word “Adolf” means a masculine given name of Germanic origin, a variant of Adolph. In plain terms, a German man's first name, historically common but now rarely used because of its association with Adolf Hitler.
How do you use “Adolf” in a sentence?
Here is “Adolf” used in a sentence: “The name Adolf fell sharply out of use after World War II.”
What part of speech is “Adolf”?
“Adolf” is a name.
Where does the word “Adolf” come from?
The word “Adolf” comes from German. From Old High German adal ("noble") plus wulf ("wolf") — literally "noble wolf.".
Is “Adolf” a common word?
“Adolf” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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