Names That Mean Wolf

Many wolf names come from old Germanic languages, where wulf was a favorite element in warrior names. Over the centuries the wolf sank out of sight inside names that now sound completely ordinary. Rudolph and its Spanish form Rodolfo mean famous wolf, and Rudy is the familiar short form. Ralph comes from a name meaning counsel wolf, and Rafe reflects the traditional British way of saying it. Randolph means shield wolf, with Randall and Randy as later forms.

Spanish carries several of these names in its own style. Raul is the Spanish form of the same name behind Ralph, Adolfo means noble wolf, and Arnulfo joins the words for eagle and wolf. Wolfgang, made famous by Mozart, means something like traveling wolf, and Wolf keeps the meaning plain. Lowell comes through Norman French, where it meant little wolf. Zev is the Hebrew word for wolf and is used in Jewish families as a strong single-syllable name.

Most of these names are traditionally used for boys, and they span several generations of style. Ralph, Randall and Rudolph feel vintage, Raul and Rodolfo are classics in Spanish-speaking families, and Wolf, Rafe and Zev sound modern and compact. Adolfo is worth a moment of thought, since its German counterpart has difficult historical associations.