Alfie

♂ Boy

Pronounced AL-fee /ˈæl.fi/Medium

Meaning: Diminutive of Alfred, from Old English aelf 'elf' + raed 'counsel', 'elf counsel'Medium

In 30 seconds: Alfie is an English diminutive of Alfred, which comes from Old English aelf 'elf' and raed 'counsel', meaning 'elf counsel'.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningDiminutive of Alfred, from Old English aelf 'elf' + raed 'counsel', 'elf counsel'

U.S. rank (2025)#2056 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births72 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,048

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Alfie began as an affectionate short form of Alfred, an Old English name combining aelf, 'elf', with raed, 'counsel', to give the sense 'elf counsel'. While Alfred carries the full weight of that ancient compound, Alfie keeps the warmth and trims the formality. The wider family includes the early Aelfraed, the continental Alfredo, and the plain short form Fred.

The bouncy -ie ending makes Alfie feel friendly and informal, very much a name you call across a room. English actors Alfie Bass and Alfie Allen, the latter known as Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, both carry it.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Alfie is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Alfie — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AlfredÆlfrædAlfrédFredAlfredo

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Alfie Bass (1916–1987)
English actor known for The Army Game, Bootsie and Snudge, and films including The Lavender Hill Mob.
★Alfie Allen (1986–present)
English actor known for playing Theon Greyjoy in HBO's Game of Thrones.

If you like Alfie…

Alfred— The full name Alfie is a diminutive of, source of the 'elf counsel' meaning.

Alfredo— Listed variation, the Italian and Spanish form of the same Alfred root.

Fred— Listed short form sharing Alfred as its parent name.

Audie— a fellow English choice

Ollie— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Alfie

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alfie mean?

Alfie is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Alfie?

It's commonly said AL-fee /ˈæl.fi/.

Is Alfie a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Alfie is used as a boy name.

How popular is Alfie?

In 2024, Alfie ranked #2038 in the U.S. for boys, with 74 births recorded.