Holding steady.
Popularity of Alvah since 1880
Babies named Alvah per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alvah's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 132 |
| 1890s | 109 |
| 1900s | 64 |
| 1910s | 326 |
| 1920s | 369 |
| 1930s | 266 |
| 1940s | 191 |
| 1950s | 184 |
| 1960s | 54 |
| 1970s | 61 |
| 1980s | 29 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Alvah is a name that saw its peak usage in the late 19th century, reaching its highest rank of 256 in 1885. Its trajectory has been stable since then, remaining consistently out of the top 1000 for decades. As a name that has never been given to more than a few hundred babies in any year, Alvah represents a distinctive choice for parents drawn to vintage or unusual names. Its uncertain origin adds an air of mystery, though it is often linked to the name Alva. Despite its rarity, Alvah has a straightforward pronunciation and a solid, traditional feel.
Alvah is a name of uncertain etymology. It may derive from the Old English element 'ælf' meaning 'elf', or be a variant of Alva, which itself could come from the Hebrew 'Alvah' meaning 'his highness' in the Bible. However, the English usage appears to be a 19th-century American coinage, possibly a respelling of Alva or a shortened form of names like Alvah (likely a variant of Alvin). It gained modest popularity in the late 1800s, peaking in 1885, but has since become rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Al
Variants: Alva
Sibling names for Alvah
Names that share Alvah's style, for a brother or sister.
