Alford Boy
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.
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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Alford was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Alford has ranked as high as #1219 nationally, which occurred in 1930, and has been most popular in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, 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.
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 | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1993 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1992 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1991 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1990 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1988 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1987 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1986 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1985 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1984 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1983 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1982 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1981 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1980 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1979 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1978 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1977 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1976 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1975 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1974 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1973 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1972 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1971 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1970 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1969 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1968 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1967 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1966 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1965 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 1964 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 1963 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1962 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| 1961 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1960 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
| 1959 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 1958 | 39 | 39 | 0 |
| 1957 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
| 1956 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1955 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1954 | 78 | 78 | 0 |
| 1953 | 73 | 73 | 0 |
| 1952 | 67 | 67 | 0 |
| 1951 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| 1950 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| 1949 | 79 | 79 | 0 |
| 1948 | 69 | 69 | 0 |
| 1947 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1946 | 69 | 69 | 0 |
| 1945 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 1944 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1943 | 74 | 74 | 0 |
| 1942 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
| 1941 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1940 | 69 | 69 | 0 |
| 1939 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
| 1938 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1937 | 76 | 76 | 0 |
| 1936 | 89 | 89 | 0 |
| 1935 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1934 | 84 | 84 | 0 |
| 1933 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| 1932 | 76 | 76 | 0 |
| 1931 | 71 | 71 | 0 |
| 1930 | 106 | 106 | 0 |
| 1929 | 93 | 93 | 0 |
| 1928 | 94 | 94 | 0 |
| 1927 | 89 | 89 | 0 |
| 1926 | 86 | 86 | 0 |
| 1925 | 101 | 101 | 0 |
| 1924 | 90 | 85 | 5 |
| 1923 | 93 | 93 | 0 |
| 1922 | 86 | 86 | 0 |
| 1921 | 87 | 87 | 0 |
| 1920 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1919 | 90 | 90 | 0 |
| 1918 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| 1917 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1916 | 68 | 68 | 0 |
| 1915 | 72 | 72 | 0 |
| 1914 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
| 1913 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 1912 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 1911 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1910 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1909 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1908 | 29 | 29 | 0 |
| 1907 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1906 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1905 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1904 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1903 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1902 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1901 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1900 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1899 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1898 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1897 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1896 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1895 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1894 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1893 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1892 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1891 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1890 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1889 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1888 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1887 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1886 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1885 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1884 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1883 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1882 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1881 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1880 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Top States for Alford (1981)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 6 |