Alfred

Alfred is a masculine first name that has its roots in Old High German and originally comes from English and Anglo-Saxon. The name is derived from Alfrad.

What does the name Alfred mean?

The name Alfred has a profound meaning and is often interpreted as 'the one advised by the elves,' 'the council of the elves,' or 'the advising elf.' The origin of the name lies in Old High German, where it is composed of the elements alb or alf, meaning 'the elf' or 'the nature spirit,' and rat, which stands for 'the council,' 'the advice,' or 'the advisor.' In England, the name became known through Alfred the Great, the King of the Anglo-Saxons, in the 9th century, which particularly spread it across the British Isles. Numerous other kings also bore this name. In Germany, Alfred has been less popular since the late 20th century, while it was among the most popular boys' names at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. The spelling Alfréd is used in Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian languages. There are also variants such as Alfredas, Alfredo, Alfrid, Alfredus, Alfrede, Alfried, and Alberad. Female forms of the name include Alfrada, Alfreda, Alfredina, Alfrida, and Alfrieda. Notable bearers of the name include British director Alfred Hitchcock, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, and German television presenter Alfred Biolek.

Where does the name Alfred come from?

The name Alfred has Old High German roots and means 'the one advised by the elves.'

How do you pronounce Alfred?

The name Alfred has a clear, two-syllable structure and is typically pronounced in German as 'Al-fred' [ˈalfʁeːt]. The consonant sequence in the middle provides a distinct division, while the long 'e' in the second syllable brings a certain brightness to the solid structure. Alfred conveys an impression of tradition and dignity - calm, determined, and strong in character.

When is the name day of Alfred?

The name days for Alfred are February 2, September 30, and October 28.

Popularity

In Germany, the first name Alfred was among the top 30 most popular boys' names in the late 19th century. Notably, it ranked 4th in 1919, followed by 7th in 1928, as well as top-10 placements in 1911 and 1904. During the 1930s to 1960s, the name consistently remained within the top 40 to top 70, but lost some popularity compared to the pre-war period.

Nicknames & pet names

Aal / Aale-Fred / Aalfett / Aalfred / Abbes / Al / Albe / Aldo / Alf / Alfa / Alfe / Alferkl / Alfi / Alfie / Alfielein / Alfredo / Alfried / Alfrosch / Alfy / Ali / Alibert / Alli / Alpfred / Altfred / Arshfred / Aschfred / Don Alfredo / Ekel / Erdferkel / Frddy / Fred / Fredchen / Freddy / Fredel / Fredi / Fredie / Fredielein / Fredl / Fredle / Fredu / Freed / Frido / Friedi / Kahlfred / Kanalfred / Lurch / Malfred / Mamfred / Oasch / Segafredo / Stahlfred / Walfred

Similar first names

Famous people

• Alfred (character) (character from 'Papa Lion and His Happy Children')
• Alfred (Fredi) Bobic (football player)
• Alfred Ackroyd (British cricketer)
• Alfred Alexandrowitsch Parland (Russian architect)
• Alfred Aufdenblatten (1897–1975), Swiss cross-country skier
• Alfred Basch (German mathematician)
• Alfred Bernhard Nobel (inventor of dynamite)
• Alfred Biolek (television entertainer)
• Alfred Bruno Döblin (famous German doctor)
• Alfred Builder (film role in 'Pillars of the Earth')
• Alfred Cliff (cricketer from England)
• Alfred Comte (Swiss photographer)
• Alfréd Deésy (1877–1961), Hungarian film director and actor
• Alfred Deesy (American actor)
• Alfred the Great (King of England)
• Alfred Dorfer (actor)
• Alfred E. Hierold (* 1942), German church lawyer
• Alfred E. Neumann (MAD mascot)
• Alfred East (British artist)
• Alfred Edel (German actor)