ULF

Ulf is a masculine given name of Old Norse origin. It derives from the word ulfr, meaning wolf, and was used in medieval Norse and other Germanic societies. The name appeared in saga literature and historical records, and over time it spread across Scandinavia and parts of Germany.

In contemporary usage, Ulf remains common in Sweden, Norway, and other Germanic-language areas. Variants and related forms include Ulfr in older records, while in Icelandic the cognate is Úlfur.

Notable bearers of the name include Ulf Kristersson (born 1963), a Swedish politician and Prime Minister since 2022; Ulf Merbold (born 1941), a German physicist and astronaut; Ulf Kirsten (born 1965), a German former footballer; and Ulf Andersson (born 1951), a Swedish chess grandmaster.

As a surname, Ulf is far less common; today it is primarily encountered as a given name rather than as a family name.