Alphonso
Alphonso was the 4712th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1900, when it ranked 376th; the most babies were born in 1962 (319). Over the last ten years it has moved down 412 places. More babies were named Alphonso in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alfonso) "noble" + "ready" · Spanish, Germanic
- Rank in 2025
- #4,712 boys, down 431 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 21boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1962319 babies
- Total since 1880
- 15,214babies recorded
What does the name Alphonso mean?
Alphonso is a spelling of Alfonso, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alfonso's meaning and origin.
Alfonso is the Spanish and Italian form of Alphonse, a Germanic name brought to Spain by the Visigoths. DMNES explains it from Gothic words for "noble" and "ready, prepared", and notes the many kings of León, Castile, Aragon and Portugal named Alfonso. It has been in steady use in the US since the late 19th century.
*aþal (Gothic, “noble”)*funs (Gothic, “ready, eager”)
How sure is this? Probable. The Gothic elements are reconstructed; other analyses exist.
Related names: Alphonse, Alphonso, Alonso, Fonzie.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean noble.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alfonso', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alphonse', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Alfonso (surname)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Alphonso popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 27 since 1930.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,712 | 21 |
| 2020 | #4,281 | 23 |
| 2010 | #3,381 | 32 |
| 2000 | #1,769 | 62 |
| 1990 | #809 | 158 |
| 1980 | #808 | 118 |
| 1970 | #554 | 216 |
| 1960 | #470 | 284 |
| 1950 | #457 | 209 |
| 1940 | #488 | 140 |
| 1930 | #526 | 129 |
| 1920 | #687 | 87 |
| 1910 | #462 | 35 |
| 1900 | #376 | 35 |
| 1890 | #740 | 8 |
| 1880 | #914 | 5 |
How popular is Alphonso, counting every spelling?
Alphonso is a spelling of Alfonso, a name family that ranked #919 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #4,712 for Alphonso on its own. Together these spellings went to 244 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfonso | 223 | #1,012 | 1,215 |
| Alphonso | 21 | #4,712 | 98 |
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 Alphonso?
21 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alphonso (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alphonso 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 401 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alphonso.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alphonso?
About 9,200 people born in the US named Alphonso are alive today, with a median age of 57; half are between 40 and 69. That makes Alphonso a name most people associate with older generations.
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.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alphonso: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alphonso, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alphonso
What does Alphonso mean?
Alphonso is a spelling of Alfonso, which means “"noble" + "ready"” (Spanish, Germanic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Alphonso?
Alphonso was the 4712th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1900, when it ranked 376th; the most babies were born in 1962 (319). Over the last ten years it has moved down 412 places. More babies were named Alphonso in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Alphonso a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Alphonso in the US.