Alpha
Alpha was the 2079th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 71 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 491st; the most babies were born in 2024 (75). Over the last ten years it has moved up 690 places. More babies were named Alpha in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,079 boys, up 34 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 71boys
- Girls and boys
- 11% girls, 89% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 202475 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,045babies recorded
Alpha popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,298 | #2,079 | 6 | 71 |
| 2020 | #12,224 | #2,113 | 7 | 66 |
| 2010 | — | #2,732 | — | 44 |
| 2000 | #7,604 | #2,623 | 13 | 35 |
| 1990 | #10,239 | #6,430 | 7 | 7 |
| 1980 | #5,555 | #4,954 | 12 | 7 |
| 1970 | #3,583 | #3,849 | 17 | 7 |
| 1960 | #2,991 | #2,875 | 17 | 9 |
| 1950 | #1,411 | #1,815 | 42 | 17 |
| 1940 | #841 | #1,681 | 72 | 17 |
| 1930 | #768 | #1,559 | 84 | 22 |
| 1920 | #505 | #1,592 | 188 | 23 |
| 1910 | #406 | #1,427 | 94 | 6 |
| 1900 | #378 | #1,169 | 78 | 6 |
| 1890 | #337 | #739 | 57 | 8 |
| 1880 | #310 | #813 | 26 | 6 |
How popular is Alpha, counting every spelling?
Alpha is the most common spelling of a name family that had 79 boys in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 79 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | 71 | #2,079 | 310 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Alpha?
71 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alpha (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alpha born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 118 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alpha.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alpha?
About 1,800 people born in the US named Alpha are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 8 and 32. That makes Alpha mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Alpha by state
How common Alpha was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (4.8×). In 44 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alpha: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alpha, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alpha
How popular is the name Alpha?
Alpha was the 2079th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 71 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 491st; the most babies were born in 2024 (75). Over the last ten years it has moved up 690 places. More babies were named Alpha in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Is Alpha a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 11% girls, 89% boys given the name Alpha in the US.
Where is Alpha most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alpha was most common in New York (0.17 per 1,000 boys), followed by Maryland and Pennsylvania.