Fun Facts About the Name Alvin
- A favorite of earlier generations: Alvin appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 39 years. Its last run lasted 38 consecutive years, from 1901 through 1938.
- More than 162 thousand babies named Alvin: U.S. records list 162,500 babies given the name Alvin from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,098 girls received the name Alvin - about 1 girl for every 147 boys.
What Does the Name Alvin Mean?
Alvin is an English masculine given name meaning "elf friend." It comes from the Old English personal name Ælfwine, formed from ælf, "elf," and wine, "friend." The literal sense is "friend of the elves" or "elf friend." In medieval England the name appears as Ælfwine and later as Alwin; Alvin is a modern English spelling of that heritage.
Some name books give Alvin the meaning "noble friend" and connect it with the Continental Germanic name Adalwin, from adal, "noble," and wini, "friend." That derivation belongs more directly to the German name Alwin. For the English name Alvin, the Old English Ælfwine explanation is the usual one, though the two similar names are sometimes confused.
Alvin Name History & Origins
Ælfwine was used in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was borne by Ælfwine, Bishop of Winchester in the 11th century, and appears in other records of the period. After the Conquest, many Old English names fell out of use among the new Norman elite, but Ælfwine left Middle English forms such as Alwin and the surname Alvin.
The given name Alvin was uncommon in later medieval and early modern England. It was used again in the 19th century, when English speakers revived old names and began using surnames as first names. From that time Alvin became established in the United States and other English-speaking countries. A related Old Norse name, Alfvin (from álfr, "elf," and vinr, "friend"), is a cognate and is one source of the modern Scandinavian name Alvin.
How Popular is the Name Alvin?
Alvin ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1897 through 1897, then returned in 1901 and remained through 1938.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | #10,620 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #13,382 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #10,310 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #10,904 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #8,413 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #8,810 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #8,554 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #5,363 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #6,310 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #7,328 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #5,545 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #7,427 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #7,439 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #7,329 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #5,970 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #9,692 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #7,315 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #7,193 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #5,017 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #6,096 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #8,316 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,537 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #3,586 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #4,201 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #5,155 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #6,821 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,406 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #3,957 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,249 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,465 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,925 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1961 | #3,794 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1960 | #4,192 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,625 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #2,449 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,121 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #2,829 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #2,636 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #2,699 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,821 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1952 | #3,557 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,021 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,440 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #3,005 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #3,358 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,902 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #3,432 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,746 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,293 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #3,045 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #2,671 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #2,535 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #2,425 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1939 | #1,948 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #3,860 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #4,271 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1936 | #2,155 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #2,100 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1934 | #1,699 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #2,876 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #1,959 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1931 | #1,504 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #1,611 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1929 | #1,393 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1928 | #2,094 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1927 | #1,674 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1926 | #1,884 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1925 | #2,021 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1924 | #1,772 | 24 | 0.0019% |
| 1923 | #1,601 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1922 | #2,389 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #2,122 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #1,818 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,746 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1918 | #1,498 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1917 | #1,654 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1916 | #1,582 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1915 | #2,542 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1914 | #2,274 | 10 | 0.0013% |
| 1912 | #2,369 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #2,480 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1908 | #2,113 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #838 | 294 | 0.0172% |
| 2024 | #791 | 316 | 0.0184% |
| 2023 | #763 | 337 | 0.0197% |
| 2022 | #735 | 352 | 0.0202% |
| 2021 | #769 | 325 | 0.0186% |
| 2020 | #682 | 377 | 0.0219% |
| 2019 | #663 | 399 | 0.0222% |
| 2018 | #655 | 390 | 0.0215% |
| 2017 | #604 | 438 | 0.0237% |
| 2016 | #586 | 469 | 0.0247% |
| 2015 | #601 | 455 | 0.0237% |
| 2014 | #595 | 461 | 0.0240% |
| 2013 | #570 | 457 | 0.0242% |
| 2012 | #521 | 505 | 0.0266% |
| 2011 | #547 | 464 | 0.0244% |
| 2010 | #527 | 490 | 0.0255% |
| 2009 | #565 | 469 | 0.0236% |
| 2008 | #436 | 658 | 0.0323% |
| 2007 | #505 | 522 | 0.0252% |
| 2006 | #503 | 516 | 0.0251% |
| 2005 | #483 | 516 | 0.0258% |
| 2004 | #508 | 482 | 0.0243% |
| 2003 | #510 | 477 | 0.0241% |
| 2002 | #457 | 533 | 0.0275% |
| 2001 | #449 | 540 | 0.0278% |
| 2000 | #456 | 522 | 0.0266% |
| 1999 | #443 | 520 | 0.0271% |
| 1998 | #440 | 521 | 0.0273% |
| 1997 | #424 | 541 | 0.0287% |
| 1996 | #450 | 499 | 0.0263% |
| 1995 | #415 | 548 | 0.0288% |
| 1994 | #409 | 556 | 0.0288% |
| 1993 | #364 | 648 | 0.0330% |
| 1992 | #369 | 633 | 0.0317% |
| 1991 | #350 | 693 | 0.0343% |
| 1990 | #331 | 749 | 0.0365% |
| 1989 | #297 | 823 | 0.0411% |
| 1988 | #317 | 688 | 0.0359% |
| 1987 | #294 | 729 | 0.0390% |
| 1986 | #301 | 678 | 0.0368% |
| 1985 | #291 | 705 | 0.0381% |
| 1984 | #295 | 690 | 0.0382% |
| 1983 | #289 | 706 | 0.0394% |
| 1982 | #270 | 783 | 0.0431% |
| 1981 | #270 | 806 | 0.0450% |
| 1980 | #254 | 868 | 0.0487% |
| 1979 | #259 | 815 | 0.0473% |
| 1978 | #252 | 800 | 0.0487% |
| 1977 | #259 | 762 | 0.0464% |
| 1976 | #257 | 766 | 0.0488% |
| 1975 | #240 | 856 | 0.0548% |
| 1974 | #247 | 811 | 0.0516% |
| 1973 | #241 | 870 | 0.0558% |
| 1972 | #243 | 882 | 0.0544% |
| 1971 | #230 | 1,028 | 0.0581% |
| 1970 | #223 | 1,087 | 0.0585% |
| 1969 | #221 | 1,061 | 0.0593% |
| 1968 | #209 | 1,112 | 0.0640% |
| 1967 | #193 | 1,225 | 0.0702% |
| 1966 | #196 | 1,239 | 0.0695% |
| 1965 | #190 | 1,328 | 0.0714% |
| 1964 | #194 | 1,461 | 0.0733% |
| 1963 | #197 | 1,501 | 0.0739% |
| 1962 | #177 | 1,711 | 0.0827% |
| 1961 | #168 | 1,875 | 0.0883% |
| 1960 | #166 | 1,996 | 0.0936% |
| 1959 | #153 | 2,260 | 0.1059% |
| 1958 | #154 | 2,182 | 0.1028% |
| 1957 | #144 | 2,386 | 0.1106% |
| 1956 | #134 | 2,432 | 0.1150% |
| 1955 | #134 | 2,359 | 0.1145% |
| 1954 | #134 | 2,368 | 0.1161% |
| 1953 | #140 | 2,110 | 0.1070% |
| 1952 | #128 | 2,335 | 0.1201% |
| 1951 | #121 | 2,386 | 0.1267% |
| 1950 | #121 | 2,269 | 0.1267% |
| 1949 | #128 | 2,158 | 0.1217% |
| 1948 | #124 | 2,270 | 0.1294% |
| 1947 | #129 | 2,215 | 0.1211% |
| 1946 | #126 | 2,047 | 0.1260% |
| 1945 | #120 | 1,862 | 0.1384% |
| 1944 | #115 | 1,967 | 0.1443% |
| 1943 | #113 | 2,203 | 0.1544% |
| 1942 | #115 | 2,071 | 0.1500% |
| 1941 | #107 | 2,016 | 0.1641% |
| 1940 | #106 | 1,910 | 0.1648% |
| 1939 | #103 | 1,940 | 0.1753% |
| 1938 | #98 | 2,063 | 0.1860% |
| 1937 | #99 | 1,986 | 0.1862% |
| 1936 | #96 | 1,970 | 0.1899% |
| 1935 | #91 | 2,165 | 0.2079% |
| 1934 | #93 | 2,147 | 0.2079% |
| 1933 | #88 | 2,128 | 0.2146% |
| 1932 | #87 | 2,274 | 0.2178% |
| 1931 | #80 | 2,299 | 0.2211% |
| 1930 | #79 | 2,512 | 0.2289% |
| 1929 | #77 | 2,555 | 0.2375% |
| 1928 | #72 | 2,750 | 0.2483% |
| 1927 | #66 | 2,883 | 0.2558% |
| 1926 | #72 | 2,693 | 0.2425% |
| 1925 | #70 | 2,777 | 0.2489% |
| 1924 | #73 | 2,759 | 0.2436% |
| 1923 | #73 | 2,647 | 0.2415% |
| 1922 | #73 | 2,598 | 0.2388% |
| 1921 | #73 | 2,687 | 0.2440% |
| 1920 | #76 | 2,523 | 0.2370% |
| 1919 | #76 | 2,383 | 0.2431% |
| 1918 | #80 | 2,409 | 0.2377% |
| 1917 | #81 | 2,142 | 0.2314% |
| 1916 | #82 | 2,093 | 0.2351% |
| 1915 | #81 | 2,006 | 0.2364% |
| 1914 | #78 | 1,532 | 0.2340% |
| 1913 | #82 | 1,144 | 0.2232% |
| 1912 | #86 | 929 | 0.2161% |
| 1911 | #89 | 460 | 0.2036% |
| 1910 | #85 | 401 | 0.2065% |
| 1909 | #82 | 363 | 0.2213% |
| 1908 | #89 | 307 | 0.1989% |
| 1907 | #99 | 245 | 0.1669% |
| 1906 | #95 | 239 | 0.1795% |
| 1905 | #92 | 258 | 0.1950% |
| 1904 | #88 | 247 | 0.1928% |
| 1903 | #90 | 222 | 0.1862% |
| 1902 | #99 | 201 | 0.1639% |
| 1901 | #95 | 179 | 0.1681% |
| 1900 | #105 | 223 | 0.1482% |
| 1899 | #103 | 173 | 0.1629% |
| 1898 | #104 | 184 | 0.1500% |
| 1897 | #97 | 186 | 0.1650% |
| 1896 | #102 | 183 | 0.1531% |
| 1895 | #103 | 179 | 0.1525% |
| 1894 | #108 | 167 | 0.1443% |
| 1893 | #107 | 163 | 0.1451% |
| 1892 | #109 | 164 | 0.1344% |
| 1891 | #115 | 121 | 0.1196% |
| 1890 | #112 | 147 | 0.1324% |
| 1889 | #113 | 137 | 0.1239% |
| 1888 | #106 | 157 | 0.1299% |
| 1887 | #107 | 128 | 0.1262% |
| 1886 | #123 | 112 | 0.1011% |
| 1885 | #111 | 125 | 0.1160% |
| 1884 | #106 | 145 | 0.1267% |
| 1883 | #113 | 113 | 0.1080% |
| 1882 | #113 | 132 | 0.1161% |
| 1881 | #115 | 105 | 0.1042% |
| 1880 | #132 | 102 | 0.0923% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Alvin
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Alvin Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Alvin's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Alvin's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.