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Home › Baby Names Directory › Elfreda

Elfreda

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Elfreda

Pronounced el-FREE-duh /ɛlˈfriː.də/Medium

Meaning: Elfreda descends from the Old English Ælfþryð, joining 'ælf', elf, to 'þryð', strength — 'elf strength'. Borne by an Anglo-Saxon queen and a saint, it survived into modern use as Elfrida, Elfreda, and Alfreda.Medium

In 30 seconds: Elfreda is an Old English name meaning 'elf strength', once borne by a queen and a saint (said 'el-FREE-duh').
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Origin MediumOld English
MeaningElfreda descends from the Old English Ælfþryð, joining 'ælf', elf, to 'þryð', strength — 'elf strength'. Borne by an Anglo-Saxon queen and a saint, it survived into modern use as Elfrida, Elfreda, and Alfreda.
U.S. rank (1978)#7854 ↗ Rising
1978 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1917
Total births (all-time)≈ 934

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191718871978

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

Elfreda comes from the Old English Ælfþryð, 'elf strength', a name from the age of Anglo-Saxon kings. It shares its roots with Elfrida and the saintly Etheldreda.

Revived by the Victorians' love of medieval names, it lingered into the early American records, peaking around 1917 before fading. It reads as a scholarly, antique name — magical in meaning yet firmly old-fashioned in feel.

Did you know? Elfreda reaches back to Anglo-Saxon England: Ælfthryth was a tenth-century queen, and a Saint Etheldreda gave rise to related forms, making it one of the oldest English names on the list.
Overall data confidence 78%
References — Elfreda — Old English Aelfthryth, 'elf strength'

Variations

ElfridaAlfredaElfrieda

Nicknames

ElfieFredaFreddie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Elfreda…

Elfrieda— a near-identical spelling of the same name
Winifred— a fellow revived medieval Fred- name
Alfreda— another form of the same 'elf' family
Everette— a fellow Old English choice
Ellerie— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Elfreda

By themevintageold-englishmedieval

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Elfreda mean?

Elfreda is from Old English, meaning 'elf strength'.

How do you pronounce Elfreda?

It's said el-FREE-duh /ɛlˈfriː.də/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Elfreda a boy or girl name?

Elfreda is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Elfreda?

Elfreda is a rare, old-fashioned name, most seen in the early twentieth century.

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