ðɪ ˈɔːɹɪdʒˌɪn ʌvðə kˈɜːɹənt nˈeɪm, wˌɪtʃ hˈæzbiːn jˈuːzd sˈɪns æt lˈiːst ðə mˈɪdəl ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, ɪz nˌɑːt nˈoʊn, bˌʌt mˈeɪ mˈiːn kˈɪŋ ˈælfɹɪd, ðə pɚpˈoːɹɾᵻd fˈaʊndɚɹ ʌv jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi kˈɑːlɪdʒ, ˈɑːksfɚd fɔːɹ mˈɛni jˈɪɹz.
The origin of the current name, which has been used since at least the middle of the 19th century, is not known, but may mean King Alfred, the purported founder of University College, Oxford for many years.