 The "-ulf, -olf" suffix was an extremely frequent element in Germanic onomastics and from an early time was perceived as a mere suffix forming given names.Similarly, the suffix "-wald, -ald, -old", originally from "wald" "rule, power" underwent semantic weakening.Therefore, the name "Arnulf" and "Arnold" were often conflated in early medieval records, as is the case with bishop Arnulf of Metz (died 640), especially as the final consonant came to be dropped ("Arnoul").