Alta
Alta was the 4267th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 33 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 137th; the most babies were born in 1918 (820). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,205 places. More babies were named Alta in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, English
Say it AL-tuh /ˈæltə/
- Rank in 2025
- #4,267 girls, up 747 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 33girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1918820 babies
- Total since 1880
- 29,048babies recorded
What does the name Alta mean?
Alta was a fairly common American girls' name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wiktionary suggests it may come from Latin alta, "high, tall", but marks this as only possible, and no source records why American parents chose it. Its popularity coincided with that of similar short names such as Alma and Alva, and it faded after the 1930s.
alta (Latin, “high, tall (possible)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Wiktionary gives Latin alta "high" as a possible, not certain, source.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alta', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Alta (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Alta popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 117 since 1889.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,267 | 33 |
| 2020 | #5,014 | 25 |
| 2010 | #7,235 | 17 |
| 2000 | #4,799 | 24 |
| 1990 | #4,385 | 22 |
| 1980 | #2,487 | 38 |
| 1970 | #1,720 | 53 |
| 1960 | #1,163 | 88 |
| 1950 | #647 | 175 |
| 1940 | #398 | 291 |
| 1930 | #318 | 427 |
| 1920 | #244 | 715 |
| 1910 | #191 | 347 |
| 1900 | #164 | 337 |
| 1890 | #151 | 234 |
| 1880 | #151 | 91 |
How popular is Alta, counting every spelling?
Alta has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Alta?
33 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alta (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Alta 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 253 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alta.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alta?
About 5,000 people born in the US named Alta are alive today, with a median age of 73; half are between 52 and 83. That makes Alta 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.
Alta by state
How common Alta was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (19.6×). In 49 states fewer than five girls 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 Alta: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alta, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alta
What does Alta mean?
The origin of Alta is uncertain: Wiktionary gives Latin alta "high" as a possible, not certain, source.
How popular is the name Alta?
Alta was the 4267th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 33 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 137th; the most babies were born in 1918 (820). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,205 places. More babies were named Alta in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Alta a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Alta in the US.
Where is Alta most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alta was most common in Utah (0.36 per 1,000 girls), followed by New York and New York.