úlfr

ólfr is the Old Norse word for wolf and also a masculine given name in Norse-speaking cultures. In medieval sources, including sagas and legal texts, ólfr or its variants appears as a personal name or as part of compound names. The name reflects a broader Germanic naming practice that uses animal terms as elements in names.

Etymology and cognates: the element derives from Proto-Germanic *wulfaz, and is cognate with the English word "wolf" and the German "Wolf." Its continued use in onomastics demonstrates the symbolic association of wolves in Germanic culture.

Modern usage: in Icelandic, the given name appears in the form Ólfr, though it remains rare. More common modern equivalents include Ólafur and Olaf. Outside Iceland, the form is seldom used, and the name is mostly encountered in historical or scholarly contexts.

Cultural context: wolves feature prominently in Norse myth and folklore, with figures such as Fenrir illustrating their symbolic importance. The practice of using animal names in Norse naming conventions is well attested across medieval sources, though Ólfr as a standalone given name today is uncommon.