Fun Facts About the Name Alfred
- Decades of popularity: Alfred stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 72 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1951.
- More than 245 thousand babies named Alfred: U.S. records list 245,143 babies given the name Alfred from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,292 girls received the name Alfred - about 1 girl for every 189 boys.
What Does the Name Alfred Mean?
Alfred comes from the Old English name Ælfræd, built from two elements: ælf, meaning "elf," and ræd, meaning "counsel" or "advice." Taken literally, the name means "elf counsel." Because ræd also carried senses such as "advice," "deliberation," and "plan," the name is often rendered more loosely as "wise counsel" or "good counselor." That looser wording is a customary interpretation rather than a literal translation.
The name belongs to Old English, and similar-looking names from other roots should not be folded into it. The same two Germanic elements appear in continental forms such as Old High German Alfrad, a relative rather than the source of the English name.
Alfred Name History & Origins
Ælfræd was a common name in Anglo-Saxon England. Its best-known bearer is Alfred the Great, king of Wessex from 871 to 899, who fought off Viking armies and was remembered in English chronicles as a learned ruler who promoted translation of Latin works into Old English. The name appears in Old English records and chronicles from that period.
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, Ælfræd became uncommon in England, as did many other Old English names. It stayed in use outside England, appearing in German as Alfred and taking root in Scandinavia, France, and other parts of Europe in forms such as Alfred and Alf.
English use of Alfred returned to ordinary currency in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it was borne by Prince Alfred (1844 - 1900), a son of Queen Victoria, and by the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892). From that period it spread widely in English-speaking countries and remained a familiar given name into the 20th century.
How Popular is the Name Alfred?
Alfred remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1951. Its highest annual birth count was in 1928, and people born that year turn 98 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | #13,503 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #13,218 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,786 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #8,799 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #6,171 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #6,724 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #9,256 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,423 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #7,431 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #5,758 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #4,683 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #6,356 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #6,057 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #9,101 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #3,865 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #4,876 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #4,092 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #4,128 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #4,495 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #3,777 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #4,225 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #4,305 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #3,560 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #4,500 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #3,248 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #4,023 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #3,597 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #2,676 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,905 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #2,520 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #3,088 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,311 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #3,051 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #5,219 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #2,780 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #2,818 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #4,920 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #2,392 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1950 | #2,913 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,729 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,493 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,532 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #3,669 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #3,135 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #2,289 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #2,560 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #2,668 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #1,810 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1940 | #2,205 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1939 | #2,126 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1938 | #1,806 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #2,001 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1936 | #1,874 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1935 | #2,207 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1934 | #2,003 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,776 | 19 | 0.0019% |
| 1932 | #1,686 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1931 | #1,126 | 40 | 0.0038% |
| 1930 | #1,232 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1929 | #1,223 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1928 | #1,223 | 39 | 0.0034% |
| 1927 | #1,261 | 39 | 0.0033% |
| 1926 | #1,389 | 33 | 0.0028% |
| 1925 | #1,505 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1924 | #1,723 | 25 | 0.0020% |
| 1923 | #1,945 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #1,787 | 23 | 0.0019% |
| 1921 | #1,543 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1920 | #1,667 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1919 | #1,482 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1918 | #2,105 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #1,653 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1916 | #2,029 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1915 | #2,052 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1914 | #1,742 | 15 | 0.0020% |
| 1913 | #1,888 | 11 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #1,480 | 14 | 0.0025% |
| 1911 | #2,476 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1910 | #2,410 | 5 | 0.0013% |
| 1907 | #2,069 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| 1906 | #1,957 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1904 | #1,492 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1902 | #1,442 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1899 | #1,283 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1898 | #1,508 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #840 | 293 | 0.0172% |
| 2024 | #838 | 293 | 0.0171% |
| 2023 | #928 | 245 | 0.0143% |
| 2022 | #841 | 289 | 0.0166% |
| 2021 | #903 | 254 | 0.0145% |
| 2020 | #899 | 250 | 0.0145% |
| 2019 | #802 | 286 | 0.0159% |
| 2018 | #862 | 254 | 0.0140% |
| 2017 | #863 | 252 | 0.0136% |
| 2016 | #845 | 266 | 0.0140% |
| 2015 | #922 | 232 | 0.0121% |
| 2014 | #795 | 288 | 0.0150% |
| 2013 | #962 | 208 | 0.0110% |
| 2012 | #950 | 212 | 0.0112% |
| 2011 | #919 | 219 | 0.0115% |
| 2010 | #905 | 225 | 0.0117% |
| 2009 | #829 | 262 | 0.0132% |
| 2008 | #787 | 278 | 0.0136% |
| 2007 | #743 | 301 | 0.0145% |
| 2006 | #749 | 282 | 0.0137% |
| 2005 | #725 | 280 | 0.0140% |
| 2004 | #717 | 267 | 0.0135% |
| 2003 | #696 | 274 | 0.0139% |
| 2002 | #657 | 284 | 0.0146% |
| 2001 | #583 | 345 | 0.0178% |
| 2000 | #576 | 350 | 0.0178% |
| 1999 | #576 | 338 | 0.0176% |
| 1998 | #538 | 372 | 0.0195% |
| 1997 | #530 | 378 | 0.0201% |
| 1996 | #496 | 423 | 0.0223% |
| 1995 | #482 | 449 | 0.0236% |
| 1994 | #475 | 453 | 0.0234% |
| 1993 | #427 | 524 | 0.0267% |
| 1992 | #402 | 571 | 0.0286% |
| 1991 | #393 | 577 | 0.0286% |
| 1990 | #364 | 643 | 0.0313% |
| 1989 | #359 | 634 | 0.0317% |
| 1988 | #312 | 721 | 0.0377% |
| 1987 | #313 | 682 | 0.0365% |
| 1986 | #305 | 672 | 0.0365% |
| 1985 | #303 | 675 | 0.0365% |
| 1984 | #277 | 748 | 0.0414% |
| 1983 | #258 | 808 | 0.0451% |
| 1982 | #261 | 834 | 0.0460% |
| 1981 | #267 | 815 | 0.0455% |
| 1980 | #255 | 864 | 0.0484% |
| 1979 | #252 | 836 | 0.0486% |
| 1978 | #233 | 895 | 0.0545% |
| 1977 | #228 | 948 | 0.0577% |
| 1976 | #225 | 902 | 0.0575% |
| 1975 | #219 | 950 | 0.0608% |
| 1974 | #218 | 973 | 0.0619% |
| 1973 | #201 | 1,075 | 0.0690% |
| 1972 | #200 | 1,163 | 0.0717% |
| 1971 | #186 | 1,371 | 0.0775% |
| 1970 | #190 | 1,418 | 0.0763% |
| 1969 | #185 | 1,496 | 0.0837% |
| 1968 | #178 | 1,494 | 0.0860% |
| 1967 | #164 | 1,633 | 0.0936% |
| 1966 | #170 | 1,608 | 0.0902% |
| 1965 | #171 | 1,655 | 0.0890% |
| 1964 | #163 | 1,963 | 0.0985% |
| 1963 | #162 | 1,987 | 0.0978% |
| 1962 | #156 | 2,129 | 0.1029% |
| 1961 | #152 | 2,281 | 0.1074% |
| 1960 | #147 | 2,407 | 0.1129% |
| 1959 | #138 | 2,543 | 0.1191% |
| 1958 | #133 | 2,712 | 0.1278% |
| 1957 | #131 | 2,822 | 0.1308% |
| 1956 | #121 | 2,946 | 0.1393% |
| 1955 | #119 | 2,980 | 0.1447% |
| 1954 | #116 | 3,044 | 0.1493% |
| 1953 | #104 | 3,132 | 0.1588% |
| 1952 | #104 | 3,134 | 0.1612% |
| 1951 | #100 | 3,203 | 0.1701% |
| 1950 | #96 | 3,235 | 0.1807% |
| 1949 | #96 | 3,189 | 0.1798% |
| 1948 | #96 | 3,245 | 0.1849% |
| 1947 | #96 | 3,417 | 0.1868% |
| 1946 | #94 | 3,238 | 0.1994% |
| 1945 | #88 | 2,894 | 0.2150% |
| 1944 | #82 | 3,047 | 0.2236% |
| 1943 | #78 | 3,445 | 0.2414% |
| 1942 | #76 | 3,408 | 0.2468% |
| 1941 | #74 | 3,052 | 0.2485% |
| 1940 | #69 | 3,062 | 0.2642% |
| 1939 | #70 | 2,990 | 0.2701% |
| 1938 | #69 | 3,008 | 0.2712% |
| 1937 | #60 | 3,181 | 0.2982% |
| 1936 | #60 | 3,252 | 0.3135% |
| 1935 | #63 | 3,128 | 0.3004% |
| 1934 | #64 | 3,159 | 0.3059% |
| 1933 | #57 | 3,268 | 0.3296% |
| 1932 | #49 | 3,899 | 0.3734% |
| 1931 | #50 | 3,949 | 0.3798% |
| 1930 | #46 | 4,558 | 0.4154% |
| 1929 | #41 | 4,928 | 0.4582% |
| 1928 | #33 | 6,252 | 0.5645% |
| 1927 | #45 | 4,756 | 0.4220% |
| 1926 | #45 | 4,726 | 0.4256% |
| 1925 | #43 | 4,796 | 0.4298% |
| 1924 | #43 | 4,929 | 0.4351% |
| 1923 | #42 | 5,005 | 0.4566% |
| 1922 | #42 | 4,833 | 0.4441% |
| 1921 | #43 | 4,925 | 0.4471% |
| 1920 | #42 | 5,006 | 0.4703% |
| 1919 | #42 | 4,615 | 0.4709% |
| 1918 | #42 | 4,873 | 0.4808% |
| 1917 | #43 | 4,424 | 0.4780% |
| 1916 | #43 | 4,278 | 0.4806% |
| 1915 | #42 | 4,231 | 0.4986% |
| 1914 | #41 | 3,347 | 0.5112% |
| 1913 | #42 | 2,577 | 0.5028% |
| 1912 | #40 | 2,210 | 0.5140% |
| 1911 | #39 | 1,158 | 0.5125% |
| 1910 | #38 | 922 | 0.4747% |
| 1909 | #39 | 763 | 0.4653% |
| 1908 | #38 | 739 | 0.4788% |
| 1907 | #36 | 738 | 0.5026% |
| 1906 | #40 | 632 | 0.4746% |
| 1905 | #43 | 591 | 0.4467% |
| 1904 | #41 | 600 | 0.4683% |
| 1903 | #39 | 557 | 0.4672% |
| 1902 | #39 | 590 | 0.4810% |
| 1901 | #39 | 506 | 0.4753% |
| 1900 | #42 | 640 | 0.4253% |
| 1899 | #41 | 496 | 0.4670% |
| 1898 | #36 | 645 | 0.5257% |
| 1897 | #40 | 513 | 0.4550% |
| 1896 | #42 | 527 | 0.4408% |
| 1895 | #38 | 551 | 0.4694% |
| 1894 | #40 | 521 | 0.4500% |
| 1893 | #38 | 530 | 0.4719% |
| 1892 | #40 | 542 | 0.4441% |
| 1891 | #39 | 499 | 0.4931% |
| 1890 | #35 | 549 | 0.4945% |
| 1889 | #41 | 472 | 0.4268% |
| 1888 | #37 | 536 | 0.4435% |
| 1887 | #35 | 468 | 0.4615% |
| 1886 | #36 | 480 | 0.4333% |
| 1885 | #39 | 446 | 0.4137% |
| 1884 | #37 | 520 | 0.4544% |
| 1883 | #35 | 457 | 0.4368% |
| 1882 | #32 | 523 | 0.4600% |
| 1881 | #33 | 466 | 0.4626% |
| 1880 | #35 | 469 | 0.4245% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
