Meaning & Origin
A topographic surname from Middle English for someone who lived by alder trees.
Alder is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, from the alder tree — a resilient tree that thrives along rivers and wetlands, sacred to the Celts as a tree of fire and protection. The name also connects to the Old English ealdor meaning 'chief' or 'leader.'
Alder has a strong, grounded nature-name quality that sits alongside Ash, Rowan, and Elder. It's a name that sounds like riverbanks and ancient forests — solid, natural, and quietly powerful. A tree name with genuine gravitas.