Alfred
Alfred: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈælfɹəd/ · /ˈælfɚd/
Meaning and origin of Alfred
Root meaning: “elf”
- A male given name from Old English.
Etymology
From Middle English Alfred, from Old English Ælfrǣd, from ælf (“elf”) + rǣd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfredo and Avery. Equivalent to elf + rede. The modern pronunciation with /f/ is a spelling pronunciation; the name in Old English was pronounced with [v], as shown in its Middle English descendant Alured (in which u stands for modern v).
How popular is Alfred?
Since 1880, 1,292 girls and 243,861 boys in the U.S. have been named Alfred (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1127 in 1931. Its highest rank for boys was #32 in 1882. In 2025 it ranked #840 for boys, with 293 babies given the name.
Names similar to Alfred
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English boy names
Sibling name ideas for Alfred
Sister and brother names that share Alfred's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Alfred FAQ
What does the name Alfred mean?
Alfred traces back to a root meaning "elf". A male given name from Old English. From Middle English Alfred, from Old English Ælfrǣd, from ælf (“elf”) + rǣd (“counsel”). Doublet of Alfredo and Avery. Equivalent to elf + rede. The modern pronunciation with /f/ is a spelling pronunciation; the name in Old English was pronounced with [v], as shown in its Middle English descendant Alured (in which u stands for modern v).
What is the origin of the name Alfred?
Alfred is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Alfred?
Since 1880, 1,292 girls and 243,861 boys in the U.S. have been named Alfred (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1127 in 1931. Its highest rank for boys was #32 in 1882. In 2025 it ranked #840 for boys, with 293 babies given the name.
Is Alfred a boy or girl name?
Alfred is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,292 girls and 243,861 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.