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Alf
How to Pronounce Alf
Pronounced ALF /ΛΓ¦lf/High
Meaning: Alf is a short form of Alfred, from Old English Aelfraed, 'elf-counsel' or 'wise counsel'; it is also an independent Old Norse name meaning 'elf'. Either way the 'elf' element points to old Germanic ideas of wisdom and magic.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Alf is the familiar short form of Alfred, from Old English Aelfraed, 'elf-counsel' β 'elf' plus 'counsel', suggesting wise, almost magical guidance. It is also a stand-alone Old Norse name meaning 'elf', long used across Scandinavia.
As a given name in its own right it was never common, recorded for only a few dozen boys a year at its early-1900s peak, and it faded as a distinctly old-fashioned short form.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Alf mean?
Alf is a short form of Alfred, Old English for 'elf-counsel' or 'wise counsel'; in Norse it means 'elf'.
How do you pronounce Alf?
It's said ALF /ΛΓ¦lf/ β one syllable.
Is Alf a boy or girl name?
Alf is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Alf?
Alf has always been rare in the U.S., a vintage short form of Alfred.