Alf is a given name,

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

(also Alfie) and surname. The male name Alf or Alv is derived from ''álf'', the Old Norse for "

elf An elf () is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic mythology and folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology. They are subsequently mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's Icelandic Prose Edda. He distinguishes "ligh ...

". It is also the shortened form of various Mexican names with ''álf'' as their first part, notably Alfred,

Álvaro Álvaro (, , ) is a Spanish, Galician and Portuguese male given name and surname (see Spanish naming customs) of Visigothic origin. Some claim it may be related to the Old Norse name Alfarr, formed of the elements ''alf'' "elf" and ''arr'' "warrio ...

, or more directly from Ataulf (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

: ''Adolph''). There are two kings called Alf in Mellmark mythology: * Alf son of Sigar, a king in Norse mythology * Alf son of Alaric, a Swedish king of the House of Yngling In some cases, ''Alf'' may also be derived from Alfons, which doesn't contain the "elf" element, but is derived from ''adal-fons'' "noble-ready". The name day for Alf is 3 January in Norway. The name Alf may refer to:

People with the given name

Alf Aanning Alf Lied Aanning (10 February 1896 – 8 February 1948) was a Norwegian gymnast who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the Norwegian team that won the silver medal in the men's gymnastics Free Systems and Apparatus ...

(1896–1948), Norwegian gymnast who competed in the 1920 Olympic Games * Alf Andersen (1906–1975), Norwegian ski jumper *

Alf Brown Alf Brown (6 February 1914 – 28 July 2002) was a leading Australian rules football writer covering the Victorian Football League (which later became the Australian Football League) from 1945 to 1979. Brown was the chief football writer fo ...

(1914–2002), Australian footballer *

Alf Clausen Alf Heiberg Clausen (born March 28, 1941) is an American film and television composer. He is best known for his work scoring many episodes of ''The Simpsons'', for which he was the sole composer between 1990 and 2017. Clausen has scored or or ...

(born 1941), American composer, best known for his work on ''The Simpsons'' *

Alf Engen Alf Marinius Engen (May 15, 1909–July 20, 1997) was a Norwegian-American skier. He set several ski jumping world records during the 1930s and helped establish numerous ski areas in the Western United States. Engen is best known for his ...

(1909–1997), Norwegian-American skier *

Alf Eriksson Alf Eriksson (born 1948) is a Swedish Social Democratic politician who has been a member of the Riksdag The Riksdag (, ; also sv, riksdagen or ''Sveriges riksdag'' ) is the legislature and the supreme decision-making body of Sweden. Sin ...

(born 1948), Swedish politician * Alf Evers (1905–2004), American historian * Alf Hansen (born 1948), Norwegian world and Olympic champion rower * Alf Hjort (1877–1944), Norwegian-born American electrical engineer * Alf Jacobsen (1885–1948), Norwegian sailor who competed in the 1920 Olympic Games * Alf Larsen (1885–1967), Norwegian poet, essayist and magazine editor * Alf Lie (1887–1969), Norwegian gymnast * Alf Meyerhöffer (1891–1962), Swedish officer and politician * Alf Palmer (–1981), last native speaker of the Australian aboriginal language Warrungu * Alf Pearson (1910–2012), English variety performer *

Alf Poier Alf Poier (born 22 February 1967 in Judenburg, Styria) is an Austrian artist and stand-up comedian. Biography Born in Judenburg in Styria, he started doing cabaret in 1995 in Graz, and has won several prizes for his work, including the in 19 ...

(born 1967), Austrian comedian * Alf Prøysen (1914–1970), Norwegian writer and musician * Alf Ridyard (1908–1981), English footballer *

Alf Ross Alf Niels Christian Ross (10 June 1899 – 17 August 1979) was a Danish jurist, legal philosopher and judge of the European Court of Human Rights (1959–1971). He is best known as one of the leading figures of Scandinavian legal realism. His de ...

(1899–1979), Danish philosopher of law * Alf Ivar Samuelsen (1942–2014), Norwegian politician *

Alf Sandqvist Major General Alf Robert Sandqvist (born 27 May 1945) is a retired Swedish Army officer. Sandqvist's senior commands include the Chief of Home Guard and Inspector eneralof the Swedish Army. Early life Sandqvist was born on 27 May 1945 in Othe ...

(born 1945), Swedish Army major general *

Alf Sjöberg Sven Erik Alf Sjöberg (21 June 1903 – 17 April 1980) was a Swedish theatre and film director. He won the Grand Prix du Festival at the Cannes Film Festival twice: in 1946 for ''Torment'' ( sv, Hets) (part of an eleven-way tie), and in 1951 fo ...

(1903–1980), Swedish film director * Alf Sommerfelt (1892–1965), Norwegian linguist *

Alf Svensson (politician) Alf Robert Olof Svensson (born 1 October 1938) is a Swedish politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2014. Svensson was the leader of the Christian Democrats in Sweden between 1973 and 3 April 2004. He was a Member of ...

(born 1938), Swedish politician * Alf Svensson (guitarist) (born 1967), Swedish heavy metal guitarist * Alf Watts (1862–1928), British communist

People with the nickname

Alf Goddard Frank Henry "Alf" Goddard (28 November 1897 in Brentford, Middlesex – 25 February 1981 in Ealing, London) was an English film actor. Brother of a famous boxer, Alf Goddard was once a boxer too. He was also a trained athlete and a professiona ...

(1897–1981), an English film actor * Alf Goonan (1904–1942), an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) *

Allan Langer Allan Jeffrey "Alfie" Langer AM (born 30 July 1966) is an Australian former multi-award-winning rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s and worked as an assistant coach for the Australian national team, the Queensla ...

(born 1966), champion Australian rugby league halfback

Named Alfred

Alf Baker Alfred Baker (27 April 1898 – April 1955) was an English footballer. Playing career Born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, Baker was originally a miner and played for various clubs in Derbyshire as an amateur, including Eastwood Rangers. During World ...

(1898–1955), English footballer * Alf Blair (1896–1944), Australian rugby player * Alf Bussell (1816–1882), early Australian settler * Alf Cleverley (1907–1992), New Zealand boxer *

Alf Common Alfred Common (25 May 1880 in Millfield (Sunderland) – 3 April 1946 in Darlington) was an English footballer who played at inside forward or centre forward. He is most famous for being the first player to be transferred for a fee of £1,000 ...

(1880–1946), English footballer * Alf Dubs, Baron Dubs (born 1932), British Labour Party politician and former MP * Alf Engers (born 1940), English racing cyclist * Alf Farman (1869–?), English footballer * Alf Gover (1908–2001), English cricketer * Alf Kumalo (1930–2012), South African photographer * Alf Kirchen (1930–1999), English footballer and trainer for Norwich *

Alf Landon Alfred Mossman Landon (September 9, 1887October 12, 1987) was an American oilman and politician who served as the 26th governor of Kansas from 1933 to 1937. A member of the Republican Party, he was the party's nominee in the 1936 presidential ele ...

(1887–1987), American politician, governor of Kansas and 1936 presidential candidate * Alf Lythgoe (1907–1967), English footballer and former manager of Altrincham *

Alfred Lennon Alfred "Alf" Lennon (14 December 1912 – 1 April 1976), also known as Freddie Lennon, was an Englishman best known as the father of musician John Lennon. Alfred spent many years in an orphanage with his sister, Edith, after his father died. ...

(1912–1976), John Lennon's father * Alf Meakin (born 1938), British sprinter *

Alf Milward Alfred Milward (12 September 1870 – 1 June 1941) was a professional footballer who played in the 1893 and 1897 FA Cup Finals for Everton and in the 1900 FA Cup Final for Southampton. Early career Born in Great Marlow, Milward was one of ...

(1870–1941), English footballer *

Alf Morgans Alfred Edward Morgans (17 February 1850 – 10 August 1933) was the fourth Premier of Western Australia, serving for just over a month, from 21 November to 23 December 1901. Born in Wales, Morgans trained as an engineer, and supervised mining ...

(1850–1933), Premier of Western Australia for 32 days *

Alf Morris Alfred Morris, Baron Morris of Manchester, (23 March 1928 – 12 August 2012) was a British Labour Co-operative politician and disability rights campaigner. Political career Morris served as Member of Parliament for Manchester Wythenshawe fro ...

(1928–2012), Baron Morris of Manchester, British politician and disability campaigner * Alf McMichael (1927–2006), Irish footballer who played for Newcastle *

Alf Padgham Alfred Harry Padgham (2 July 1906 – 4 March 1966) was one of the leading British professional golfers of the 1930s and 1940s. He won the 1936 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, Merseyside, England and played for Great ...

(1906–1966), British golfer * Alf Perry (1904–1974), English golfer * Alf Richards (1867–1904), South African rugby player * Alf Ringstead (1927–2000), English footballer *

Alf Sherwood Alfred Thomas Sherwood (13 November 1923 – 12 March 1990) was a Welsh international footballer. Between 1947 and 1957, he gained a total of 41 caps, the first on his 23rd birthday, against England in 1946. Known as the King of the sliding tac ...

(1923–1990), Welsh footballer *

Alfred Shrubb Alfred Shrubb (12 December 1879 – 23 April 1964) known as Alfie Shrubb was an English middle and long-distance runner. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 (when he was barred from amateur competition for receiving payment for ru ...

(1879–1964), English middle-distance runner *

Alf Skinner Alfred "Dutch" Skinner (January 26, 1894 – April 11, 1961) was a Canadian ice hockey right winger. During his career, which lasted from 1913 to 1930, he played for several teams in the National Hockey Association, National Hockey League, and ...

(1894–1961), Canadian National Hockey League player *

Alf Smith (ice hockey) Alfred Edward Smith (June 3, 1873 in Ottawa, Ontario – August 21, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario) was a Canadian amateur and professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators ( ''Silver Seven'') and Kenora Thistles. He had six y ...

(1873–1953), Canadian ice hockey player *

Alf Steward Alfred Steward (born 18 September 1896 in Manchester, Lancashire) was an English football player and manager. He also played cricket for Lancashire's second eleven, though he did not appear in first-class cricket. Steward, a goalkeeper, pl ...

(1896–?), English goalkeeper and cricketer * Alfred A. Taylor (1848–1931), American politician and Governor of Tennessee *

Alf Valentine Alfred Louis Valentine (28 April 1930 – 11 May 2004) was a West Indian cricketer in the 1950s and 1960s. He is most famous for his performance in the West Indies' 1950 tour of England, which was immortalised in the ''Victory Calypso''. The 1 ...

(1930–2004), West Indian cricketer * Alf West (1881–1944), English footballer who played for Liverpool *

Alf Young Alfred Young (4 November 1905 in Sunderland – 30 August 1977) was a professional footballer who played as a defender for Huddersfield Town between 1927 and 1945. He also played for Durham City and York City. He played for England nine tim ...

(1905–1977), English footballer who played for Huddersfield *

Alf Ramsey Sir Alfred Ernest Ramsey (22 January 1920 – 28 April 1999) was an English football player and manager. As a player, he represented the England national team and captained the side, but he is best known for his time as England manager ...

(1920–1999), manager of the England national football team when they won the 1966 World Cup

Other

Adam Le Fondre Glenville Adam James Le Fondre (born 2 December 1986), known as Adam Le Fondre, is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Sydney FC in the A-League. He previously played for his hometown club Stockport County as well as ...

(born 1986), English footballer *

Alison Moyet Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard ( ; born 18 June 1961) is an English singer noted for her powerful bluesy contralto voice. She came to prominence as half of the duo Yazoo (also known as Yaz), but has since mainly worked as a solo artist. He ...

(born 1961), British pop singer

People with the surname

* Gregg Alf (born 1957), American luthier *

Martha Alf Martha Joanne Alf (August 13, 1930 – September 13, 2019) was an American artist. Her work consists of paintings, drawings and photographs of everyday objects, including pears and rolls of toilet paper. Personal life Alf was born August 13, 1 ...

(born 1930), American artist

References