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Elfrida

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Elfrida

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

Meaning: Elfrida (also Elfreda, Alfreda) comes from the Old English 'Aelfthryth', from 'aelf' ('elf') and 'thryth' ('strength') - 'elf strength'. It was borne by a tenth-century English queen and survives in German usage; it is a genuine, if rare, heritage name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Elfrida is an Old English and German name meaning 'elf strength'. It reads as a rare, medieval-rooted vintage choice.

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Origin MediumOld English, German

MeaningElfrida (also Elfreda, Alfreda) comes from the Old English 'Aelfthryth', from 'aelf' ('elf') and 'thryth' ('strength') - 'elf strength'. It was borne by a tenth-century English queen and survives in German usage; it is a genuine, if rare, heritage name.

U.S. rank (1959)#6520 ↘ Falling

1959 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1958

Total births (all-time)≈ 59

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

Elfrida descends from Old English Aelfthryth ('elf' plus 'strength'), a name carried by a tenth-century English queen and kept alive in German-speaking Europe. Part of the Victorian revival of Anglo-Saxon names, it reached American records in small numbers and often traveled with German heritage.

It was always very rare, cresting around 1958 with only a handful of girls a year - one of the scarcest names in its group. A woman named Elfrida then is now around retirement age; the name reads as a striking, storybook-medieval antique, kin to Alfreda and Winifred, that has never been common in the U.S.

Did you know? Elfrida's Old English source, Aelfthryth, was the name of a formidable tenth-century queen of England - very much an 'elf strength' to be reckoned with.

Overall data confidence 70%

References - Elfrida / Aelfthryth — Old English 'elf strength'

Variations

ElfredaAlfredaElfriedeElfrieda

Nicknames

FridaElfie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Elfrida…

Alfreda— a close relative from the same Old English root

Elfreda— an alternate spelling of the same name

Frida— the short form and a name in its own right

Winifred— another rare, old-world 'Win-' vintage name

Explore names like Elfrida

By themevintage german old-english

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Elfrida mean?

Elfrida is from Old English 'Aelfthryth', meaning 'elf strength'.

How do you pronounce Elfrida?

It's said el-FREE-duh /ɛlˈfriː.də/, three syllables.

Is Elfrida a boy or girl name?

Elfrida is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Elfrida?

Elfrida has always been very rare, a medieval-rooted heritage name scarce in the U.S.