Is Alford a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Alford is commonly used as a Boy name.

How do you pronounce Alford?

AL-ford · IPA: //ˈæl.fɔrd//

Alford Boy

Popularity: — · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AL-ford //ˈæl.fɔrd//

Origin: Old English; Anglo-Saxon

Meaning: Old English: 'ford by the elder tree'; Anglo-Saxon: 'river crossing'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Alford has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "aelf," meaning "elf," and "ford," meaning "river crossing." This etymological combination suggests a geographical or topographical significance, likely referring to a river crossing associated with mythical or supernatural beings. The name evolved through various forms, appearing as "Aelford" in early medieval records before being anglicized to Alford in the later Middle Ages.

The transition into English reflects the linguistic shifts that occurred following the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which influenced the development of English place names and surnames. Historically, the name Alford is associated with several notable locations in England, including a village in Lincolnshire and a town in Somerset, both of which contributed to the surname's spread.

The name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating its presence in England during the Norman period. Additionally, the name has been borne by various individuals throughout history, including members of the English gentry and notable figures in local governance, which further solidified its standing in English heritage.

Culturally, Alford carries connotations of strength and stability, likely due to its association with natural features like rivers, which have historically been vital for settlement and trade. The name has also been linked to various traditions and folklore surrounding elves in Anglo-Saxon culture, enhancing its mystical resonance.

While diminutive forms such as Alf may exist, the name Alford itself has maintained a distinct identity over the centuries, reflecting both its linguistic origins and its historical significance in English culture.

Famous people named Alford

In this section, you will find notable people named Alford. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Alford who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Alford who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Alford T. D. is a composer best known for his work in film and television scoring.

Alford J. is a renowned author best known for his contributions to contemporary literature.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Alford, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Alistair Alvin Alden Arthur Arnold Avery

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Alford. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

Alfred Alvin Alden Aldo Alaric Alistair Alec

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Alford was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Alford has ranked as high as #784 nationally, which occurred in 1930, and has been most popular in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

In the past 5 years the name Alford has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Alford is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Alford was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Alford (1966)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

Year:

State	Births	Share
NC	5	100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Alford.

Year	Births
2019	5
2017	5
2005	5
2002	7
2001	5
2000	5
1999	9
1997	8
1996	5
1995	6
1994	11
1993	8
1992	10
1991	16
1990	8
1989	9
1988	14
1987	11
1986	12
1985	13
1984	21
1983	16
1982	15
1981	26
1980	24
1979	15
1978	18
1977	21
1976	11
1975	29
1974	19
1973	32
1972	26
1971	20
1970	34
1969	21
1968	26
1967	32
1966	34
1965	26
1964	43
1963	34
1962	34
1961	45
1960	49
1959	54
1958	39
1957	42
1956	55
1955	68
1954	78
1953	73
1952	67
1951	60
1950	64
1949	79
1948	69
1947	55
1946	69
1945	55
1944	68
1943	74
1942	87
1941	72
1940	69
1939	59
1938	68
1937	76
1936	89
1935	83
1934	84
1933	66
1932	76
1931	71
1930	106
1929	93
1928	94
1927	89
1926	86
1925	101
1924	85
1923	93
1922	86
1921	87
1920	83
1919	90
1918	62
1917	72
1916	68
1915	72
1914	45
1913	41
1912	40
1911	30
1910	18
1909	14
1908	29
1907	16
1906	16
1905	17
1904	10
1903	21
1902	17
1901	9
1900	22
1899	19
1898	12
1897	16
1896	7
1895	7
1894	10
1893	10
1892	20
1891	10
1890	16
1889	10
1888	15
1887	9
1886	17
1885	11
1884	17
1883	13
1882	16
1881	17
1880	14