Alf
Alf is a given name, nickname and surname.
Meaning & Origin of Alf
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Alf is a given name, nickname and surname.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Alf
Alf first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1916, when 38 Alfs were born — ranking #1,043 that year. As of 2026, Alf ranks #6,056 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 1K Alfs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Alf
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Alf Aanning (1896–1948), Norwegian gymnast who competed in the 1920 Olympic Games
- Alf Andersen (1906–1975), Norwegian ski jumper
- Alf Bakken (born 1962), Norwegian politician
- Alf Brown (1914–2002), Australian footballer
- Alf Clausen (1941–2025), American composer, best known for his work on The Simpsons
- Alf Engen (1909–1997), Norwegian-American skier
- Alf Eriksson (born 1948), Swedish politician
- Alf Evers (1905–2004), American historian
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Alf
Phonetically similar names — useful when Alf is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alf
What does the name Alf mean?
How popular is Alf in 2026?
When was Alf most popular?
In which U.S. states is Alf most popular?
Is Alf a unisex name?
What names go well with Alf?
About the name Alf
Alf is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Alf's peak popularity came in 1916 when it ranked #1,043. Use the chart and map above to compare Alf's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1916 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.