Gender: Masculine
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “ancestor’s descendant.”
(OH-lahf)

The name is derived from the Old Norse Áleifr, which is composed of the elements, anu meaning, “ancestor” and leifr meaning, “heir; descendant.”

The name was extremely common throughout Scandinavia in the early Middle Ages, and its popularity was sparked due to the fame of King Olaf II, who was canonized a saint. He is believed to be responsible for Norway’s conversion to Christianity. He is still regarded as a sort of national folk hero and is considered the patron saint of Norway.

The name was borne by a few other Norwegian kings.

Currently, its offshoot of Ola, is the 65th most popular male name in Norway, (2009). His other forms are ranked as follows:

• Olav # 77 (Norway, 2009)
• Ole # 33 (Norway, 2009)
• Olle # 35 (Sweden, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

• Olaf (Danish/German/Polish/Norwegian/Swedish)
• Olai/Olaj (Danish/Norwegian)
• Olau (Danish)
• Olav (Danish/Norwegian)
• Oluf (Danish)
• Lávus (Faroese)
• Ólavur (Faroese)
• Olev (Estonian)
• Olavi (Finnish/Estonian)
• Olli (Finnish)
• Oola (Finnish)
• Uolevi (Finnish)
• Ólafur (Icelandic)
• Óli (Icelandic)
• Amhlaoibh (Irish-Gaelic)
• Olaus/Olavus (Latin)
• Olafs/Olavs (Latvian)
• Ulafs (Latvian)
• Ola (Norwegian/Swedish)
• Olavius/Olavus (Norwegian)
• Ole (Norwegian/Swedish)
• Áleifr/Óláfr (Old Norse)
• Olavo (Portuguese)
• Olá (Sami)
• Olen (Sami)
• Olet (Sami)
• Ovlá/Ovllá (Sami)
• Ovlin (Sami)
• Amhlaidh (Scots-Gaelic)
• Aulay (Scottish)
• Olagus (Swedish)
• Olle (Swedish)
• Olof (Swedish)
• Olov (Swedish)

Feminine forms include:

• Olava (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
• Olea (Danish/Norwegian)
• Oluffa/Olufine (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
• Óluva (Faroese)
• Óla (Icelandic)
• Ólafía (Icelandic)
• Ólafína (Icelandic)
• Ólavía (Icelandic)
• Lava (Norwegian)
• Lavine (Norwegian)
• Olafine (Norwegian)
• Olave (Norwegian)
• Olavia (Norwegian)
• Olavine/Olevine (Norwegian)
• Olemine (Norwegian)
• Oletta/Olette (Norwegian)
• Olia (Norwegian)
• Olsine (Norwegian)
• Olávia (Portuguese)
• Olova/Oluva (Swedish)

Common Finnish diminutives are Laaku, Lavi, Olkki, Olkku, Uokke and Uokki.

The designated name-days are February 15 and July 29.

Sources

1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/olaf
2. http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Olaf_m
3. http://www.scb.se/
4. http://www.dst.dk/Statistik/Navne.aspx
5. http://www.ssb.no/navn/