The name Alfred is a boy's name of English origin meaning "wise counselor". Alfred is ranked #861 on our popularity charts and is often added to lists like Old Man Names and discussed in our forums with posts like "Names on NB that make you go WOW!".
From the experts:
Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (called "England's darling") was a wise, compassionate and scholarly king of old England in the tenth century. His name reached the height of its popularity from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century—it was in the Top 50 in the U.S. until 1933.
Among its best known bearers were the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, movie director Alfred Hitchcock, biologist/sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, Swedish inventor/industrialist Alfred Nobel, and photographer Alfred Stieglitz. And let's not forget Batman's butler, Alfred Pennyworth.
Hipper nicknames: Alf, Alfie, and Fred.
Lists containing Alfred:
- Names That Mean Strong, Brave or Powerful
- Names That Mean Wise
- Geek Chic Names for Boys
- Vintage Boy Names
- Vintage Baby Names
- Royal Names for Boys
- Boy Names ALWAYS in the Top 1000
- Old Man Names
- Old People Names
- Top 1920s Baby Names
- Victorian Royal Baby Names
- College Baby Names
- Top 1900s Baby Names
- Top 1910s Baby Names
- Popular English Boy Names
- English Names with International Style
- August Baby Names
- Serious Names
Comments
Heiko Björnsson Says:
headintheclouds Says:
This was one of my favorite boys' names of all time and I'd imagined having a boy named Alfred one day. I do still love it now but it's fallen out of my top favorites' list, perhaps because I was thinking of it so much that I grew bored of it? It's a great name though, and a little Alfred nicknamed Al, Alf, Alfie, Fred or Red would be so wonderful!
mickie86 Says:
I am really crushing on this boy's name lately! Does anyone watch Gotham?
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"wise councilor" is the correct meaning for Alfred. It is an ancient Germanic name wich is composed of two words: "Alf" is a form of "Elf". "Red" comes from "Raed" which means "council" or "advice". So the literal meaning is: "wise council of the Elves"