Alfred
Boy name · #840 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Alfred? In official American birth records, Alfred has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 293 baby boys were named Alfred, placing it at #840 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #922, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,143 boys born in 2025 was named Alfred.
Babies named Alfred per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Alfred first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 469 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 6,252 boys were named Alfred — good for #33 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alfred against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alfred in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alfred is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alfred will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alfred is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alfred is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Alfred is most common in MI (0.3 per 1,000), PA (0.3 per 1,000), IL (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Alfred is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Alfred
Statistically, parents drawn to Alfred tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Fred, Arnold, Alvin, Harold, and Donald.
FredArnoldAlvinHaroldDonaldHowardAlbertEugene
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alfred | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 293 | #840 |
| 2024 | 296 | #837 |
| 2023 | 245 | #928 |
| 2022 | 291 | #837 |
| 2021 | 255 | #901 |
| 2020 | 250 | #899 |
| 2019 | 286 | #802 |
| 2018 | 254 | #862 |
| 2017 | 252 | #864 |
| 2016 | 266 | #845 |
| 2015 | 232 | #922 |
| 2014 | 288 | #795 |
| 2013 | 208 | #962 |
| 2012 | 212 | #949 |
| 2011 | 219 | #919 |
| 2010 | 225 | #904 |
| 2009 | 263 | #828 |
| 2008 | 278 | #787 |
| 2007 | 301 | #743 |
| 2006 | 282 | #749 |
| 2005 | 280 | #725 |
| 2004 | 267 | #717 |
| 2003 | 274 | #696 |
| 2002 | 284 | #657 |
| 2001 | 345 | #583 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alfred?
In official American birth records, the name Alfred first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 469 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alfred a popular boy name?
Alfred ranked #840 among boys in 2025 with 293 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #922.
When was the name Alfred most popular?
Alfred peaked in 1928, when 6,252 American boys received the name (ranked #33 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alfred?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,143 newborn American boys was named Alfred. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.