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Do Europeans Still Name Their Kids Adolf?
The historic name was shredded in the wake of World War II
For hundreds of years, the name Adolf was popular and respected in northern Europe. The name Adolf graced dozens of monarchs, including multiple kings of Sweden. There are even four canonized saints that had the name, Adolf. Unfortunately, the name was ruined by one leader who placed it on the list of the worst people in all of human history.
The actions of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ravaged the world and led to the deaths of millions of people. For many, no name evokes feelings of disgust and horror more than Adolf Hitler.
The result is a conflict between the past and present. Adolf has had a long history in Europe, and the name is a part of millions of people’s family histories.
So do Europeans still name their children Adolf despite the negative connotation?
The answer, in most cases, is no.
Not only did Hitler start the bloodiest war in human history, he also ruined the tradition of an ancient European name.
No More Adolfs
Following World War II, the usage of the name Adolf plummeted across Europe. In some families, the name still exists as a middle name in order to honor family…
