A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Alphonse since 1880
Babies named Alphonse per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 178 |
| 1890s | 218 |
| 1900s | 347 |
| 1910s | 2,326 |
| 1920s | 2,529 |
| 1930s | 1,281 |
| 1940s | 954 |
| 1950s | 760 |
| 1960s | 496 |
| 1970s | 304 |
| 1980s | 239 |
| 1990s | 221 |
| 2000s | 151 |
| 2010s | 265 |
| 2020s | 321 |
Meaning & origin
Alphonse ranked 2,516 in the United States in 2025, with about 1 in 32,228 newborn boys receiving the name. Its peak year was 1913, and after declining for decades, it has been rising since 2005, placing it in the top states of California and Texas. The name's noble meaning and historical royal associations give it a classic, distinguished feel that is finding new favor among modern parents seeking an unfamiliar vintage name.
Alphonse is the French form of the Germanic name Alfons, derived from 'adal' (noble) and 'funs' (ready). It was borne by several kings of Castile and Aragon, as well as by saints, which helped spread its use across Europe. The name has been in steady but modest use in the United States since the late 19th century, with a peak in 1913.
Where Alphonse is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Alphonse” around the world
Where Alphonse lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
95
babies in 2024
Quebec
14
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Al, Alfie, Phonse
Sibling names for Alphonse
Names that share Alphonse's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Beatrice, Clara, Genevieve, Henrietta, Matilda, Albertine, Eulalia, Yolande, Clotilde, Eulalie, Georgena, Jamesetta, Leonette, Odilia, Philomene, Victorine, Berthe, Clothilde, Francella, Hortence, Rolande, Rosine, Alexine, Clotile, Felicite, Florestine, Lucendia, Mosella, Syvilla, Violanda
Brothers: August, Felix, Hugo, Leopold, Oscar, Bertrand, Fernand, Adolphe, Rosaire, Orlandus
