From Old Norse, traditionally interpreted as "wand-elf" or "staff elf," and later popularized in literature.
Gandalf comes from Old Norse and is traditionally interpreted as wand elf or staff elf. The name was later made famous by literature, which gave it a powerful place in the modern imagination and turned it into one of the most recognizable fantasy names in the world.
As a personal name, Gandalf feels mythic, eccentric, and larger than life. It carries the weight of legend, wisdom, and magic, and it is so strongly associated with literary wizardry that it almost functions as a symbol. The name is rare in everyday use, but unforgettable because of the story-world it evokes.