Alvaro
Alvaro was the 777th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 328 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 455th; the most babies were born in 2000 (441). Over the last ten years it has moved up 131 places. More babies were named Alvaro in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning all + guard (probable) · Spanish, Germanic
Say it AHL-vah-roh /ˈɑlvəɹoʊ/
- Rank in 2025
- #777 boys, up 76 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 328boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2000441 babies
- Total since 1880
- 17,362babies recorded
What does the name Alvaro mean?
Alvaro (Spanish Álvaro) is an old Iberian name of Germanic origin, borne in medieval Castile and Portugal. DMNES derives it from the elements all- 'all, whole' and wart 'guard, ward', so roughly 'guardian of all'. Other scholars have proposed different Germanic elements, such as alf 'elf' (as in Alfred), and the exact form is not settled. It has long been common in Spain and Latin America and is used by Spanish-speaking families in the US.
*allaz (Proto-Germanic, “all, whole”)wart (Old High German, “guard, ward”)
How sure is this? Probable. DMNES's 'all + guard' analysis is the standard one; some sources give other Germanic elements.
Pronunciation: In Spanish the stress is on the first syllable (ÁL-va-ro); English speakers often say al-VAR-oh.
Related names: Álvaro, Alvarez.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean protector.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alvaro', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alvaro' (Italian section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Álvaro', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Alvaro popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 2002.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #777 | 328 |
| 2020 | #853 | 267 |
| 2010 | #774 | 287 |
| 2000 | #513 | 441 |
| 1990 | #576 | 309 |
| 1980 | #644 | 181 |
| 1970 | #921 | 75 |
| 1960 | #911 | 69 |
| 1950 | #1,052 | 45 |
| 1940 | #1,628 | 18 |
| 1930 | #1,215 | 34 |
| 1920 | #2,338 | 13 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Alvaro, counting every spelling?
Alvaro has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #760 for boys in 2025, against #777 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Alvaro?
328 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alvaro (0.09 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Alvaro 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 26 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alvaro.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alvaro?
About 15,900 people born in the US named Alvaro are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 15 and 38. That makes Alvaro 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.
Alvaro by state
How common Alvaro was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (2.4×), California (2.2×), Arizona (2.1×). In 25 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 Alvaro: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alvaro, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Alvaro · Sibling names for Alvaro
Questions about the name Alvaro
What does Alvaro mean?
Alvaro means “all + guard (probable)” (Spanish, Germanic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Alvaro?
Alvaro was the 777th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 328 babies. Its best year was 1985, when it ranked 455th; the most babies were born in 2000 (441). Over the last ten years it has moved up 131 places. More babies were named Alvaro in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Alvaro a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Alvaro in the US.
Where is Alvaro most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alvaro was most common in Texas (0.45 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and Arizona.