Alf
A diminutive of the male given names Alfred and Alfonso, from the Germanic languages.
Every Alf since 1880 — 1,130 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Alf
Alf is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1880, 1,130 American babies have been named Alf. Its peak came in 1916, when 38 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Alf stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Alf year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | 8 | #3,955 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 8 | #3,082 |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | 9 | #2,583 |
| 1945 | 6 | #2,999 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | 12 | #2,128 |
| 1930 | 19 | #1,693 |
| 1925 | 18 | #1,874 |
| 1920 | 26 | #1,457 |
| 1915 | 34 | #1,100 |
| 1910 | 6 | #1,424 |
| 1905 | 8 | #920 |
| 1900 | 8 | #971 |
| 1895 | 6 | #979 |
| 1890 | 10 | #630 |
| 1885 | 5 | #941 |
| 1880 | 7 | #747 |
Famous people named Alf
- Alf Sjöberg Film director · 1903–1980
- Alf Ramsey Soccer player · 1920–1999
- Alf Prøysen Writer · 1914–1970
- Alf Andersen Skier · 1906–1975
- Alf Landon Politician · 1887–1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alf mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Alfred and Alfonso, from the Germanic languages.
How popular is the name Alf in 2025?
Alf did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Alf?
1,130 babies have been named Alf in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Alf most popular?
Alf peaked in 1916, when 38 newborns received the name.
Is Alf a boy or girl name?
Alf is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Alf rising or falling?
Alf has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Alf?
Well-known people named Alf include Alf Sjöberg (film director), Alf Ramsey (soccer player), Alf Prøysen (writer).