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Olaf

Boy name · 65 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Olaf: 65 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 8 births in 2014.

Olaf is the modern Scandinavian form of the Old Norse name Áleifr, meaning "ancestor's relic"—a blend of *anu* ("ancestor") and *leifr* ("heirloom"). The name was borne by several Norwegian kings, most famously Saint Olaf (Óláfr Haraldsson), the 11th-century king who Christianised Norway and became its patron saint. Another notable bearer is Olaf Palme, the Swedish prime minister whose assassination in 1986 shocked the world. While Olaf itself doesn't directly name a place, the name's root appears in the Scottish island of Lismore via its Norse heritage. The Disney character Olaf from *Frozen*—a friendly, snowman-loving name—has given the name a modern, approachable boost, though it remains relatively rare in Scotland.