The Alder tree takes its name from the Old English 'alor', this is from the root *el- meaning reddy brown. This same root gives us the name Elk. The German name for the tree in Erle and can be found in the title Erl-King (German Erl-könig) the elf-king or Alder-king who dwells in the Germanic forests. The Danish translation gives us Ellerkonge, again meaning king of the elves - alder. Another tree with a similar name is the Elder, from the Old English ellæn or ellærn, and Elm, from *elmaz, again from the *el- root meaning red.