Fulke

Fulke is a masculine given name of English origin, a medieval and early modern variant of the Frankish name Fulk. The form is derived from a Proto-Germanic root associated with Frankish and Germanic names, and the exact meaning is uncertain, though it is commonly linked with the element folk meaning “people” or, in some traditions, with wolf. Spelling variants include Fulk, Fulco, Fulkes, and Foulk, while Fulke remains an established English spelling.

Usage of the name extends from the Middle Ages through the early modern period in England. It gradually fell out of common use by the 18th century and is now relatively rare as a given name in English-speaking countries.

Notable bearers include Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke (1554–1628), an English statesman, poet and dramatist who was a prominent Elizabethan figure and patron of literature.

Today, Fulke is primarily encountered in historical, genealogical, or literary contexts. It remains of interest to scholars studying naming practices in medieval and early modern England.