Elves By Jean-Baptiste Monge

The name elf is from Old English ælf (plural ylfe), ultimately from a Common Germanic alboz (also albiz), corresponding to Old Norse álfr, Old High German alb. It survives as an element in given names such as English and German Alfred, Alfwin, Elfreda, or Scandinavian Alfhild, Alvar. There are no obvious cognates outside of Germanic, but some have compared the ṛbhu, a type of genii in Hindu mythology.