Elfleda

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Elfeda

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Elfeda is the modern, Latinized form of the Old English name Aelflaed meaning “Elf Beauty” and the Old English name Aethelflaed meaning “Noble Beauty” from “aethel” (noble) and “flaed” (beauty).

History:
Aelflaed and Aelfled did not long surivive tthe Norman conquest of 1066 and the disappearance of the Anglo-Saxon culture and language. They were, however, briefly revived in the 19th century, in their shared Latin form of Elfeda.

Pronunciation: elf-led-ah.

Diminutives: Alflet, Elflet, Fleda.

Alternates: Aelfeda, Aethelflaed, Aelflaed, Aelfleda, Alfleda, Athelfleda, Ethelfleda.

Famous Bearers:
Royalty:
Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia (circa 869-919)
Daughter of Alfred the Great.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.001 % of females named Elfleda

Popularity of Elfleda:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-2004: N/A

Popularity of Fleda:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1883: N/A
1884: 851st most popular.
1885-1888: N/A
1889: 840th most popular.
1890-1895: N/A
1896: 950th most popular.
1897-2004: N/A

Selected Sources:
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)