Alpha
#13,208 for girls in 2025, 6 births · #2,077 for boys in 2025, 71 births
Given to girls 71.6% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1881 · 27 births
- Debut · girls
- 26 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 7,188since 1880
Alpha over time
Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #13,208 | 6 | #2,077 | 71 |
| 2024 | #15,293 | 5 | #2,028 | 75 |
| 2023 | #11,169 | 8 | #2,480 | 54 |
| 2022 | #11,231 | 8 | #2,325 | 61 |
| 2021 | #9,562 | 10 | #2,623 | 49 |
| 2020 | #12,142 | 7 | #2,113 | 66 |
| 2019 | #6,698 | 17 | #2,129 | 67 |
| 2018 | #15,682 | 5 | #2,546 | 50 |
| 2017 | — | #2,450 | 52 | |
| 2016 | #11,781 | 8 | #2,207 | 61 |
| 2015 | — | #2,766 | 43 | |
| 2014 | — | #2,754 | 43 | |
| 2013 | #16,547 | 5 | #2,804 | 41 |
| 2012 | — | #3,002 | 38 | |
| 2011 | #13,347 | 7 | #3,306 | 33 |
| 2010 | — | #2,730 | 44 | |
| 2009 | — | #2,528 | 50 | |
| 2008 | — | #2,515 | 50 | |
| 2007 | #13,924 | 7 | #2,643 | 46 |
| 2006 | #15,152 | 6 | #2,398 | 51 |
| 2005 | #10,921 | 9 | #2,653 | 41 |
| 2004 | #14,179 | 6 | #3,074 | 32 |
| 2003 | #13,844 | 6 | #2,545 | 40 |
| 2002 | — | #2,556 | 38 | |
| 2001 | #9,351 | 10 | #2,489 | 39 |
| 2000 | #7,580 | 13 | #2,621 | 35 |
| 1999 | #10,345 | 8 | #2,608 | 33 |
| 1998 | #5,363 | 19 | #3,597 | 20 |
| 1997 | #4,660 | 22 | #3,877 | 17 |
| 1996 | #3,361 | 34 | #4,185 | 15 |
| 1995 | #13,386 | 5 | #4,280 | 14 |
| 1994 | — | #4,537 | 13 | |
| 1993 | — | #3,819 | 16 | |
| 1992 | — | #6,670 | 7 | |
| 1991 | — | #5,096 | 10 | |
| 1990 | #10,193 | 7 | #6,415 | 7 |
| 1989 | #6,531 | 12 | #4,271 | 12 |
| 1988 | #7,691 | 9 | — | |
| 1987 | #9,825 | 6 | #6,951 | 5 |
| 1986 | #7,134 | 9 | #5,332 | 7 |
| 1985 | #6,457 | 10 | #4,698 | 8 |
| 1984 | #9,144 | 6 | #3,701 | 11 |
| 1983 | #6,212 | 10 | #3,071 | 14 |
| 1982 | #10,517 | 5 | #3,282 | 13 |
| 1981 | #5,885 | 11 | #3,601 | 11 |
| 1980 | #5,544 | 12 | #4,940 | 7 |
| 1979 | #5,427 | 12 | #2,897 | 15 |
| 1978 | #4,931 | 13 | #2,799 | 15 |
| 1977 | #5,213 | 12 | #4,582 | 7 |
| 1976 | #4,363 | 14 | #3,724 | 9 |
| 1975 | #5,161 | 11 | #3,246 | 11 |
| 1974 | #4,720 | 12 | #2,799 | 13 |
| 1973 | #3,971 | 15 | #2,857 | 12 |
| 1972 | #5,109 | 10 | #2,534 | 14 |
| 1971 | #3,652 | 17 | #3,146 | 10 |
| 1970 | #3,577 | 17 | #3,836 | 7 |
| 1969 | #4,418 | 11 | #2,861 | 10 |
| 1968 | #4,000 | 12 | — | |
| 1967 | #4,982 | 8 | #2,760 | 9 |
| 1966 | #3,959 | 11 | #2,327 | 12 |
| 1965 | #2,744 | 20 | #2,982 | 8 |
| 1964 | #4,355 | 10 | #2,205 | 14 |
| 1963 | #2,619 | 22 | #3,044 | 8 |
| 1962 | #2,922 | 18 | #2,673 | 10 |
| 1961 | #2,673 | 21 | #2,409 | 12 |
| 1960 | #2,989 | 17 | #2,871 | 9 |
| 1959 | #2,108 | 29 | #2,663 | 10 |
| 1958 | #2,376 | 23 | #3,275 | 7 |
| 1957 | #2,563 | 20 | #2,093 | 15 |
| 1956 | #1,931 | 31 | #2,628 | 10 |
| 1955 | #2,411 | 21 | #2,964 | 8 |
| 1954 | #2,378 | 21 | #2,114 | 14 |
| 1953 | #2,173 | 23 | #2,391 | 11 |
| 1952 | #1,781 | 31 | #1,939 | 16 |
| 1951 | #1,611 | 35 | #2,135 | 13 |
| 1950 | #1,411 | 42 | #1,815 | 17 |
| 1949 | #1,627 | 33 | #1,702 | 19 |
| 1948 | #1,345 | 47 | #1,881 | 16 |
| 1947 | #1,238 | 53 | #2,169 | 13 |
| 1946 | #1,107 | 59 | #1,813 | 16 |
| 1945 | #1,213 | 43 | #2,131 | 11 |
| 1944 | #964 | 65 | #2,862 | 7 |
| 1943 | #1,124 | 51 | #2,277 | 11 |
| 1942 | #968 | 65 | — | |
| 1941 | #1,013 | 52 | #1,821 | 15 |
| 1940 | #841 | 72 | #1,680 | 17 |
| 1939 | #898 | 61 | #2,288 | 10 |
| 1938 | #840 | 71 | #1,613 | 18 |
| 1937 | #778 | 77 | #1,756 | 16 |
| 1936 | #791 | 73 | #1,872 | 14 |
| 1935 | #705 | 91 | #1,538 | 20 |
| 1934 | #671 | 99 | #1,783 | 16 |
| 1933 | #693 | 88 | #1,644 | 18 |
| 1932 | #712 | 91 | #1,286 | 28 |
| 1931 | #656 | 102 | #1,458 | 23 |
| 1930 | #768 | 84 | #1,559 | 22 |
| 1929 | #698 | 100 | #2,002 | 15 |
| 1928 | #628 | 125 | #1,960 | 16 |
| 1927 | #562 | 159 | #1,350 | 30 |
| 1926 | #639 | 126 | #1,720 | 20 |
| 1925 | #609 | 143 | #1,493 | 25 |
| 1924 | #619 | 147 | #1,329 | 31 |
| 1923 | #567 | 161 | #1,460 | 26 |
| 1922 | #552 | 166 | #1,107 | 41 |
| 1921 | #529 | 179 | #1,360 | 30 |
| 1920 | #504 | 188 | #1,592 | 23 |
| 1919 | #487 | 189 | #1,386 | 27 |
| 1918 | #513 | 179 | #1,499 | 24 |
| 1917 | #469 | 191 | #1,062 | 39 |
| 1916 | #451 | 198 | #1,206 | 30 |
| 1915 | #455 | 182 | #1,181 | 30 |
| 1914 | #470 | 135 | #1,221 | 23 |
| 1913 | #403 | 148 | #995 | 25 |
| 1912 | #447 | 111 | #1,023 | 20 |
| 1911 | #385 | 110 | #1,190 | 9 |
| 1910 | #406 | 94 | #1,421 | 6 |
| 1909 | #395 | 86 | — | |
| 1908 | #368 | 96 | #946 | 9 |
| 1907 | #376 | 87 | #866 | 10 |
| 1906 | #399 | 74 | #1,004 | 7 |
| 1905 | #393 | 73 | #1,233 | 5 |
| 1904 | #333 | 97 | #1,205 | 5 |
| 1903 | #341 | 85 | — | |
| 1902 | #354 | 81 | #583 | 14 |
| 1901 | #360 | 71 | #596 | 12 |
| 1900 | #378 | 78 | #1,162 | 6 |
| 1899 | #319 | 88 | #928 | 6 |
| 1898 | #361 | 75 | #1,002 | 6 |
| 1897 | #339 | 75 | #652 | 11 |
| 1896 | #321 | 82 | #982 | 6 |
| 1895 | #330 | 75 | — | |
| 1894 | #328 | 72 | #730 | 9 |
| 1893 | #340 | 62 | — | |
| 1892 | #343 | 59 | #688 | 10 |
| 1891 | #325 | 59 | #766 | 7 |
| 1890 | #337 | 57 | #739 | 8 |
| 1889 | #321 | 58 | #789 | 7 |
| 1888 | #347 | 47 | #917 | 6 |
| 1887 | #328 | 42 | #921 | 5 |
| 1886 | #346 | 38 | #694 | 8 |
| 1885 | #337 | 35 | #547 | 12 |
| 1884 | #385 | 27 | #547 | 12 |
| 1883 | #314 | 32 | #556 | 11 |
| 1882 | #326 | 29 | #489 | 14 |
| 1881 | #301 | 27 | #595 | 9 |
| 1880 | #309 | 26 | #809 | 6 |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Alpha was already there! It came in at #309, and was given to 26 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1991–1995, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.
Where Alpha is popular in 1918
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Oklahoma#193 · 1 in 972
- Kentucky#200 · 1 in 1,081
- West Virginia#273 · 1 in 1,952
- Virginia#299 · 1 in 3,015
- Kansas#352 · 1 in 3,189
Best ever in a state: #123 in North Dakota, 1912.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | #193 | 24 | 1 in 972 |
| Kentucky | #200 | 25 | 1 in 1,081 |
| West Virginia | #273 | 9 | 1 in 1,952 |
| Virginia | #299 | 9 | 1 in 3,015 |
| Kansas | #352 | 5 | 1 in 3,189 |
| Tennessee | #360 | 8 | 1 in 3,214 |
| Minnesota | #365 | 6 | 1 in 3,753 |
| North Carolina | #380 | 8 | 1 in 4,239 |
| Louisiana | #393 | 7 | 1 in 2,959 |
| Arkansas | #394 | 7 | 1 in 2,786 |
| Alabama | #396 | 7 | 1 in 3,823 |
| Missouri | #397 | 8 | 1 in 3,842 |
| Ohio | #432 | 8 | 1 in 6,814 |
| Georgia | #489 | 6 | 1 in 5,721 |
| Texas | #522 | 12 | 1 in 4,127 |
| Illinois | #639 | 5 | 1 in 12,398 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| California | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Indiana | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| New York | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Alpha
- 2,085 spots since 2024 (#15,293 → #13,208)
- 1,066 spots since 2020 (#12,142 → #13,208)
- Biggest jump: 160 spots in 1944 (#1,124 → #964)
- Biggest drop: 249 spots in 1945 (#964 → #1,213)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1881 at #301 (27 births)
- Births halved by 1964, 83 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 63 yrs · run 1880–1940
- Highest: 1 in 2,648 girls born in 1899 were named Alpha (0.04%)
- Latest: 1 in 267,878 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- Its best rank, #301 in 1881, was only 1 in 3,406 (0.03%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 21.4% of all girls named Alpha (1,537) were born in this decade
- Mostly girls until 1997, mostly boys since
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 361 | #301 (1881) | #331 |
| 1890s | 704 | #319 (1899) | #334 |
| 1900s | 828 | #333 (1904) | #370 |
| 1910s | 1,537 | #385 (1911) | #449 |
| 1920s | 1,494 | #504 (1920) | #591 |
| 1930s | 837 | #656 (1931) | #751 |
| 1940s | 540 | #841 (1940) | #1,144 |
| 1950s | 276 | #1,411 (1950) | #2,074 |
| 1960s | 150 | #2,619 (1963) | #3,566 |
| 1970s | 133 | #3,577 (1970) | #4,612 |
| 1980s | 90 | #5,544 (1980) | #7,494 |
| 1990s | 95 | #3,361 (1996) | #7,885 |
| 2000s | 57 | #7,580 (2000) | #12,136 |
| 2010s | 42 | #6,698 (2019) | #12,811 |
| 2020s | 44 | #9,562 (2021) | #12,101 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Alpha in 1918
Top girls' names in 1918
Top boys' names in 1918
More about 1918
girls
1,157,631 girls got a published name in 1918; 1 in 6,467 of them was named Alpha, which outranked 90.8% of the 5,585 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #510Joanna180
- #510Madeleine180
- #510Mathilda180
- #513Alpha179
- #513Margarita179
- #513Marianne179
- #516Betsy178
- #516Cassie178
- #516Charlie178
Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
- ↑ 547Jesse#1,507 → #960
- ↑ 494Liberty#1,079 → #585
- ↑ 389Marilynn#1,337 → #948
- ↑ 312Margueritte#1,281 → #969
- ↑ 306Syble#807 → #501
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,013,480 boys got a published name in 1918; 1 in 42,228 of them was named Alpha, which outranked 68.9% of the 4,813 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 31.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,446Von25
- #1,446Waino25
- #1,446Young25
- #1,499Alpha24
- #1,499Aldon24
- #1,499Burnie24
- #1,499Casmir24
- #1,539Alfons23
- #1,539Amil23
- #1,539Amon23
Tied with 39 names at #1,499; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.