Olof

Olof is a Scandinavian given name derived from the Old Norse name Áleifr, composed of the elements anu, meaning ancestor, and leifr, meaning heir or descendant, giving an overall sense of ancestral heir. It was borne by several medieval kings of Sweden and Norway, most famously Saint Olaf II of Norway, who became the patron saint of Norway after his death in 1030, greatly popularizing the name across the Nordic world. Olof is the characteristically Swedish form, while related variants include Olaf, Olav, and Ólafur, found across Norwegian, Danish, Faroese, and Icelandic traditions.