Adolph

Adolph is a masculine given name and, less commonly, a surname. It is an English-language variant of Adolf, derived from the Germanic elements adal, noble, and wolf. The form Adolph has historically appeared in English-language contexts and in some American families, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, while Adolf remains standard in German-speaking areas.

In usage, the name spread with European immigration to North America. After World War II, the popularity of Adolph declined in many places due to its association with Adolf Hitler, though earlier generations may still bear the name. The name has given rise to surnames and nicknames such as Dolph in some cases.

Notable people with the name include Adolph Ochs (1858–1935), American newspaper publisher who built The New York Times as a prominent daily; Adolph Coors (1847–1929), Austrian-born American brewer and founder of the Coors Brewing Company; and Adolph Kiefer (1926–2017), American swimmer and Olympic gold medalist.

Adolph remains a historically significant but relatively uncommon given name in the modern era, with usage varying by country and culture. Variants in other languages include Adolf (German), Adolphe (French), and Adolphus (Latinized form). See also: Adolf, Adolphe, Adolphus.