Alfred is an English given name, one of the few Anglo-Saxon names which saw continued use until modern times. Its Old English form is Ælfræd (Old English pronunciation: [ˈælfˌræːd]), composed of the elements ælf "elf" and ræd "counsel". It is also related to the name Alf of Old Norse.
Its most famous bearer was Alfred the Great, the 9th-century English king. Due to the lasting fame of King Alfred, the name remained in use throughout the medieval period. It had, however, become rare by the early modern period, and its popularity was revived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Famous modern people called Alfred include Alfred Lord Tennyson, Alfred Nobel and Alfred Hitchcock.