Alfred Boy

Popularity: #655 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AL-fred //ˈæl.frɛd//

Origin: Old English; German

Meaning: Old English: elf counsel; German: noble counsel

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Alfred has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements 'ælf,' meaning 'elf,' and 'ræd,' meaning 'counsel' or 'advice.' This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to 'elf counsel' or 'wise counselor.' The name was recorded in various forms, including 'Aelfred' in Old English, which transitioned into the Latinized form 'Alfredus' during the medieval period, eventually evolving into the modern English 'Alfred.' The name entered the English lexicon through the influence of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, particularly during the early medieval period. One of the most significant historical figures bearing this name is King Alfred the Great, who reigned from 871 to 899.

He is renowned for his defense of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms against Viking invasions and is often credited with laying the foundations for what would later become England. His contributions to education, law, and military strategy were pivotal during a time of great upheaval.

Alfred's legacy was further solidified by the translation of important texts into English, including the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,' which chronicled the history of the Anglo-Saxons. Culturally, the name Alfred has been associated with wisdom and leadership, reflecting the qualities of its most famous bearer.

The name has appeared in various literary works and historical texts, reinforcing its significance in English heritage. Additionally, diminutive forms such as 'Alf' have emerged, though they are less prominent in historical contexts.

The enduring nature of the name Alfred can be attributed to its strong historical associations and the positive attributes linked to its meaning, making it a name of considerable cultural resonance throughout the centuries.

Famous people named Alfred

In this section, you will find notable people named Alfred. 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 Alfred who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Alfred 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.

Alfred Hitchcock is a film director best known for Psycho, Rear Window, and North by Northwest.

Alfred Nobel is an inventor and philanthropist best known for establishing the Nobel Prizes.

Alfred Lord Tennyson is a poet best known for In Memoriam, The Charge of the Light Brigade, and The Lady of Shalott.

Alfred Molina is an actor best known for Spider-Man 2, Frida, and Boogie Nights.

Alfred Einstein is a physicist and musicologist best known for his work on the theory of relativity and contributions to music theory.

Alfred Dreyfus is a military officer best known for being the central figure in the Dreyfus Affair.

Alfred Adler is a psychologist best known for founding individual psychology and his theories on inferiority complexes.

Alfred E. Neuman is a fictional character best known as the mascot of Mad magazine.

Alfred Kinsey is a biologist and sexologist best known for the Kinsey Reports on human sexual behavior.

Fictional characters named Alfred

The following list of fictional characters named Alfred is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. He is the loyal butler and father figure to Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman.

Sibling suggestions

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

ArthurHenryEdmundWilliamGeorgeCharles

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Alfred. 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.

AlbinAlaricAlvinAldenAldousAlistair

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Alfred has ranked as high as #71 nationally, which occurred in 1928, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Massachusetts.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Alfred 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 Alfred 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 Alfred.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 293 293 0
2024 296 296 0
2023 245 245 0
2022 291 291 0
2021 255 255 0
2020 250 250 0
2019 286 286 0
2018 254 254 0
2017 252 252 0
2016 266 266 0
2015 232 232 0
2014 288 288 0
2013 208 208 0
2012 212 212 0
2011 219 219 0
2010 225 225 0
2009 263 263 0
2008 278 278 0
2007 301 301 0
2006 282 282 0
2005 280 280 0
2004 267 267 0
2003 274 274 0
2002 284 284 0
2001 345 345 0
2000 350 350 0
1999 338 338 0
1998 372 372 0
1997 378 378 0
1996 423 423 0
1995 449 449 0
1994 458 453 5
1993 524 524 0
1992 571 571 0
1991 582 577 5
1990 642 642 0
1989 642 634 8
1988 721 721 0
1987 689 682 7
1986 683 672 11
1985 675 675 0
1984 748 748 0
1983 817 808 9
1982 840 834 6
1981 822 814 8
1980 872 864 8
1979 847 836 11
1978 909 895 14
1977 957 948 9
1976 912 903 9
1975 954 949 5
1974 989 973 16
1973 1,086 1,075 11
1972 1,176 1,162 14
1971 1,386 1,372 14
1970 1,430 1,418 12
1969 1,510 1,496 14
1968 1,505 1,494 11
1967 1,643 1,633 10
1966 1,620 1,607 13
1965 1,665 1,656 9
1964 1,978 1,962 16
1963 1,999 1,988 11
1962 2,143 2,130 13
1961 2,305 2,284 21
1960 2,424 2,406 18
1959 2,566 2,545 21
1958 2,726 2,711 15
1957 2,836 2,823 13
1956 2,960 2,945 15
1955 2,986 2,980 6
1954 3,060 3,044 16
1953 3,147 3,132 15
1952 3,140 3,134 6
1951 3,221 3,203 18
1950 3,248 3,235 13
1949 3,204 3,190 14
1948 3,261 3,245 16
1947 3,433 3,417 16
1946 3,246 3,238 8
1945 2,903 2,894 9
1944 3,062 3,047 15
1943 3,458 3,445 13
1942 3,420 3,408 12
1941 3,072 3,052 20
1940 3,076 3,062 14
1939 3,005 2,990 15
1938 3,027 3,008 19
1937 3,197 3,181 16
1936 3,270 3,253 17
1935 3,142 3,128 14
1934 3,174 3,158 16
1933 3,287 3,268 19
1932 3,920 3,899 21
1931 3,989 3,949 40
1930 4,595 4,558 37
1929 4,965 4,928 37
1928 6,291 6,252 39
1927 4,795 4,756 39
1926 4,759 4,726 33
1925 4,826 4,796 30
1924 4,954 4,929 25
1923 5,025 5,005 20
1922 4,856 4,833 23
1921 4,954 4,925 29
1920 5,031 5,006 25
1919 4,643 4,615 28
1918 4,890 4,873 17
1917 4,446 4,424 22
1916 4,294 4,278 16
1915 4,246 4,231 15
1914 3,362 3,347 15
1913 2,588 2,577 11
1912 2,224 2,210 14
1911 1,163 1,158 5
1910 927 922 5
1909 763 763 0
1908 739 739 0
1907 743 738 5
1906 637 632 5
1905 591 591 0
1904 607 600 7
1903 557 557 0
1902 597 590 7
1901 506 506 0
1900 640 640 0
1899 503 496 7
1898 651 645 6
1897 513 513 0
1896 527 527 0
1895 551 551 0
1894 521 521 0
1893 530 530 0
1892 542 542 0
1891 499 499 0
1890 549 549 0
1889 472 472 0
1888 536 536 0
1887 468 468 0
1886 480 480 0
1885 446 446 0
1884 520 520 0
1883 457 457 0
1882 523 523 0
1881 466 466 0
1880 469 469 0

Top States for Alfred (2024)

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
CA 28
12%
NY 22
9%
FL 20
9%
TX 17
7%
MA 14
6%
MI 13
6%
VA 12
5%
OH 11
5%
IL 11
5%
PA 11
5%
MN 10
4%
NJ 10
4%
UT 9
4%
MO 9
4%
CO 8
3%
GA 8
3%
NC 7
3%
TN 7
3%
AZ 5
2%