Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. AL-frəd(English) AL-FREHD(French) AL-freht(German, Polish) AHL-frət(Dutch)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Means "elf counsel", derived from the Old English name Ælfræd, composed of the elements ælf "elf" and ræd "counsel, advice". Alfred the Great was a 9th-century king of Wessex who fought unceasingly against the Danes living in northeast England. He was also a scholar, and he translated many Latin books into Old English. His fame helped to ensure the usage of this name even after the Norman Conquest, when most Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. It became rare by the end of the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 18th century.

Famous bearers include the British poet Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), the Swedish inventor and Nobel Prize founder Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), and the British-American film director Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980).

Related Names

DiminutivesAlf, Alfie(English) Fred(German)
Feminine FormsAlfreda, Freda(English) Alfreda(German) Alfreda(Polish)
Other Languages & CulturesÆlfræd(Anglo-Saxon) Alfréd(Czech) Alfréd(Hungarian) Alfredo, Fredo(Italian) Alfrēds(Latvian) Alfredas(Lithuanian) Alfredo(Portuguese) Alfréd(Slovak) Alfredo(Spanish)
Surname DescendantsAlfredson(English) Alfredsson(Swedish)
Same SpellingAlfréd
User SubmissionAlfrèd

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   natural   wholesome   strong   refined   simple   serious  

Name Days

Austria: April 22
Croatia: August 14
Estonia: October 29
Finland: October 29
France: August 15
Norway: January 3
Poland: July 4
Poland: July 19
Poland: August 4
Poland: August 14
Poland: December 14
Sweden: January 3

Images

Alfred the Great in a 13th-century miniatureAlfred the Great in a 13th-century miniature

Categories

Entry updated June 9, 2023