The story behind Alfred
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).
Other language forms and explanations (5)
Dutch entry
Borrowed from English Alfred.
Finnish entry
From English Alfred, from Old English Ælfræd, possibly through Swedish Alfred.
French entry
From English Alfred, from Old English Ælfræd.
German entry
Borrowed from English Alfred, from Old English Ælfræd.
Polish entry
Borrowed from English Alfred, from Old English Ælfræd.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈælfɹəd/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Appalachians, dated: /ˈælfɚd/
- Dutch: /ˈɑl.frɛt/
- Finnish: /ˈɑlfred/
- Finnish: [ˈɑ̝l.fre̞d]
- French: /al.fʁɛd/
- German: /ˈalfʁeːt/
- Polish: /ˈal.frɛt/
Popularity
Alfred ranked #840 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Alfred
Alfréd
Derived from English Alfred.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ashland
From Old English æsċ (“ash tree”) + land, equivalent to ash + land. Many places in the United States are named after Ashland, Henry Clay's estate.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clifford
From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
David
From Middle English David, Davyd, Davyde, from Old English Dauid, David, from Late Latin Dāvīd, from Koine Greek Δαυῑ̈́δ (Dauī̈́d), from Biblical Hebrew דָּוִד (dāwiḏ,…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Diamond
* As a female given name, from diamond (gemstone). * As a German surname, Anglicized form of Diamant. * As a Irish surname, Anglicized form of Irish Ó Diamáin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Éadbhard
From English Edward, from Old English Ēadweard.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Alfred
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adamu
Borrowed from English Adam.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Alfred
Barney
From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barton
From Old English bere (“barley”) + Old English tūn (“enclosure”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Baxter
From Middle English bakster, bakestre, from Old English bæcestre (“baker”), equivalent to bake + -ster.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length