A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Alberta since 1880
Babies named Alberta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alberta's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 992 |
| 1890s | 2,327 |
| 1900s | 5,475 |
| 1910s | 14,575 |
| 1920s | 17,861 |
| 1930s | 11,348 |
| 1940s | 8,313 |
| 1950s | 4,897 |
| 1960s | 2,415 |
| 1970s | 938 |
| 1980s | 568 |
| 1990s | 338 |
| 2000s | 166 |
| 2010s | 95 |
| 2020s | 57 |
Meaning & origin
Alberta is a vintage name that enjoyed its peak popularity a century ago. In its best year, 1909, it ranked among the top 200 names for girls in the United States. After a long decline, it has been slowly rising again since 2017, following the revival trend for 'grandma names'. Despite this recent uptick, Alberta remains extremely uncommon today, with a rank of 9457 in the latest data. The name is a feminine form of Albert, meaning 'noble and bright', and it shares its origin with the Canadian province, which was named in 1897 after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the daughter of Queen Victoria. As a classic, well-constructed name with a dignified meaning, Alberta appeals to parents seeking a distinctive yet traditional choice.
Alberta is the feminine form of Albert, derived from the Germanic elements 'adal' meaning 'noble' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright'. It was popularized in the 19th century, partly as a name honoring Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, and later given as a female equivalent. The name saw peak usage in the early 1900s, coinciding with the naming of the Canadian province Alberta in 1905.
Where Alberta is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Alberta” around the world
Where Alberta lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Allie, Birdie, Bertie
Variants: Albertina
Sibling names for Alberta
Names that share Alberta's style, for a brother or sister.
