Adolf

Adolf, also spelled Adolph and sometimes Latinised to Adolphus, is a given name used in German-speaking countries, in Scandinavia, in the Netherlands and Flanders and to a lesser extent in various Central European countries. Adolphus can also appear as a surname, as in John Adolphus, the English historian.

The name is a compound derived from the Old High German Athalwolf, a composition of athal, or adal, meaning noble, and wolf; compare Rudolf. The name is cognate to the Anglo-Saxon name Æthelwulf.

Stigmatization

During the 19th and early 20th century, Adolf was a common name for babies in German-speaking countries. However, because of negative associations with the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, it has become rare as a given name for males since the end of World War II. It remains common among people born before the war, who are now elderly. Adolf Dassler, the founder of Adidas, ended up using the nickname 'Adi' in his professional life and for the name of his company.

Similarly, the French version, Adolphe—previously a fairly common name in France and the name of a classic French novel—has virtually disappeared, along with Italian Adolfo.