Alva
#5,554 for girls in 2025, 22 births · #10,695 for boys in 2025, 6 births
Given to boys 55.9% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1882 · 85 births
- Debut · boys
- 70 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 11,269since 1880
Alva 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 | #5,554 | 22 | #10,695 | 6 |
| 2024 | #4,473 | 31 | #8,987 | 8 |
| 2023 | #5,248 | 24 | #7,738 | 10 |
| 2022 | #4,671 | 29 | #7,768 | 10 |
| 2021 | #4,607 | 29 | #12,146 | 5 |
| 2020 | #3,607 | 41 | #7,502 | 10 |
| 2019 | #4,343 | 32 | #12,145 | 5 |
| 2018 | #4,768 | 28 | #7,617 | 10 |
| 2017 | #5,821 | 21 | #6,338 | 13 |
| 2016 | #4,990 | 27 | #7,157 | 11 |
| 2015 | #6,452 | 19 | #10,644 | 6 |
| 2014 | #8,966 | 12 | #10,717 | 6 |
| 2013 | #8,135 | 14 | #8,789 | 8 |
| 2012 | #8,208 | 14 | — | |
| 2011 | #8,614 | 13 | — | |
| 2010 | #7,217 | 17 | #10,766 | 6 |
| 2009 | #9,379 | 12 | — | |
| 2008 | #8,109 | 15 | #11,037 | 6 |
| 2007 | #8,520 | 14 | #7,590 | 10 |
| 2006 | #17,168 | 5 | — | |
| 2005 | #8,330 | 13 | #11,472 | 5 |
| 2004 | #6,768 | 17 | #7,536 | 9 |
| 2003 | #6,576 | 17 | #10,894 | 5 |
| 2002 | #7,816 | 13 | — | |
| 2001 | #11,020 | 8 | #9,243 | 6 |
| 2000 | #5,937 | 18 | #5,920 | 11 |
| 1999 | #10,345 | 8 | #5,656 | 11 |
| 1998 | #6,719 | 14 | #6,843 | 8 |
| 1997 | #12,070 | 6 | #5,642 | 10 |
| 1996 | #5,531 | 17 | #5,982 | 9 |
| 1995 | #7,041 | 12 | #4,052 | 15 |
| 1994 | #7,097 | 12 | #6,372 | 8 |
| 1993 | #4,393 | 23 | #5,002 | 11 |
| 1992 | #4,528 | 22 | #4,327 | 13 |
| 1991 | #5,399 | 17 | #6,519 | 7 |
| 1990 | #3,909 | 26 | #4,407 | 12 |
| 1989 | #2,714 | 41 | #3,446 | 16 |
| 1988 | #3,165 | 31 | #3,705 | 13 |
| 1987 | #5,312 | 14 | #4,573 | 9 |
| 1986 | #4,186 | 19 | #3,131 | 15 |
| 1985 | #2,704 | 35 | #3,401 | 13 |
| 1984 | #4,478 | 16 | #3,459 | 12 |
| 1983 | #2,975 | 28 | #2,787 | 16 |
| 1982 | #3,260 | 26 | #2,269 | 22 |
| 1981 | #2,723 | 33 | #2,779 | 16 |
| 1980 | #2,603 | 36 | #2,058 | 26 |
| 1979 | #3,541 | 22 | #2,465 | 19 |
| 1978 | #2,859 | 28 | #1,718 | 31 |
| 1977 | #2,909 | 27 | #1,858 | 27 |
| 1976 | #2,664 | 29 | #1,999 | 24 |
| 1975 | #2,516 | 31 | #1,835 | 26 |
| 1974 | #2,683 | 27 | #1,747 | 27 |
| 1973 | #2,455 | 30 | #1,354 | 38 |
| 1972 | #2,451 | 29 | #1,603 | 29 |
| 1971 | #1,906 | 45 | #1,415 | 36 |
| 1970 | #1,828 | 48 | #1,416 | 35 |
| 1969 | #2,023 | 38 | #1,075 | 52 |
| 1968 | #1,647 | 49 | #1,282 | 35 |
| 1967 | #1,881 | 39 | #1,253 | 36 |
| 1966 | #1,700 | 44 | #1,194 | 39 |
| 1965 | #1,528 | 53 | #1,129 | 44 |
| 1964 | #1,518 | 56 | #1,059 | 51 |
| 1963 | #1,565 | 52 | #1,151 | 45 |
| 1962 | #1,278 | 75 | #1,056 | 52 |
| 1961 | #1,533 | 54 | #950 | 65 |
| 1960 | #1,430 | 59 | #981 | 60 |
| 1959 | #1,499 | 52 | #926 | 68 |
| 1958 | #1,240 | 73 | #1,006 | 57 |
| 1957 | #1,173 | 81 | #995 | 58 |
| 1956 | #1,116 | 85 | #969 | 59 |
| 1955 | #1,010 | 98 | #807 | 82 |
| 1954 | #1,039 | 89 | #892 | 68 |
| 1953 | #1,178 | 67 | #889 | 65 |
| 1952 | #1,046 | 81 | #714 | 97 |
| 1951 | #977 | 91 | #857 | 66 |
| 1950 | #1,018 | 80 | #695 | 97 |
| 1949 | #973 | 84 | #649 | 111 |
| 1948 | #923 | 88 | #633 | 115 |
| 1947 | #909 | 95 | #595 | 131 |
| 1946 | #936 | 79 | #603 | 114 |
| 1945 | #925 | 67 | #558 | 115 |
| 1944 | #836 | 83 | #579 | 112 |
| 1943 | #788 | 97 | #508 | 148 |
| 1942 | #802 | 91 | #532 | 131 |
| 1941 | #735 | 93 | #586 | 102 |
| 1940 | #702 | 98 | #497 | 137 |
| 1939 | #623 | 117 | #485 | 140 |
| 1938 | #687 | 100 | #463 | 156 |
| 1937 | #624 | 118 | #452 | 155 |
| 1936 | #638 | 106 | #416 | 177 |
| 1935 | #604 | 116 | #470 | 146 |
| 1934 | #604 | 119 | #451 | 155 |
| 1933 | #597 | 117 | #442 | 156 |
| 1932 | #559 | 137 | #424 | 175 |
| 1931 | #568 | 135 | #385 | 213 |
| 1930 | #631 | 120 | #402 | 208 |
| 1929 | #609 | 126 | #369 | 241 |
| 1928 | #545 | 163 | #416 | 207 |
| 1927 | #552 | 164 | #374 | 245 |
| 1926 | #570 | 156 | #364 | 259 |
| 1925 | #580 | 154 | #388 | 239 |
| 1924 | #560 | 167 | #362 | 273 |
| 1923 | #593 | 149 | #359 | 274 |
| 1922 | #534 | 174 | #384 | 246 |
| 1921 | #553 | 165 | #351 | 289 |
| 1920 | #541 | 173 | #353 | 278 |
| 1919 | #516 | 174 | #349 | 264 |
| 1918 | #483 | 196 | #346 | 273 |
| 1917 | #526 | 161 | #294 | 317 |
| 1916 | #480 | 176 | #329 | 260 |
| 1915 | #518 | 146 | #324 | 262 |
| 1914 | #507 | 121 | #350 | 178 |
| 1913 | #413 | 142 | #307 | 167 |
| 1912 | #414 | 125 | #312 | 138 |
| 1911 | #446 | 83 | #363 | 58 |
| 1910 | #445 | 80 | #317 | 61 |
| 1909 | #442 | 70 | #268 | 68 |
| 1908 | #464 | 60 | #389 | 36 |
| 1907 | #412 | 74 | #272 | 59 |
| 1906 | #423 | 65 | #246 | 64 |
| 1905 | #442 | 58 | #263 | 57 |
| 1904 | #469 | 49 | #273 | 49 |
| 1903 | #414 | 58 | #257 | 50 |
| 1902 | #420 | 54 | #234 | 60 |
| 1901 | #428 | 49 | #228 | 59 |
| 1900 | #407 | 67 | #237 | 73 |
| 1899 | #467 | 39 | #213 | 61 |
| 1898 | #411 | 56 | #215 | 67 |
| 1897 | #408 | 51 | #204 | 69 |
| 1896 | #334 | 76 | #219 | 68 |
| 1895 | #357 | 61 | #197 | 74 |
| 1894 | #398 | 50 | #194 | 76 |
| 1893 | #422 | 41 | #208 | 66 |
| 1892 | #419 | 40 | #202 | 74 |
| 1891 | #506 | 26 | #188 | 66 |
| 1890 | #429 | 35 | #194 | 68 |
| 1889 | #543 | 22 | #205 | 62 |
| 1888 | #439 | 32 | #202 | 74 |
| 1887 | #378 | 32 | #201 | 58 |
| 1886 | #476 | 21 | #206 | 64 |
| 1885 | #520 | 17 | #243 | 46 |
| 1884 | #731 | 9 | #209 | 62 |
| 1883 | #817 | 6 | #172 | 72 |
| 1882 | #507 | 13 | #161 | 85 |
| 1881 | #470 | 13 | #171 | 70 |
| 1880 | #403 | 17 | #180 | 70 |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Alva was already there! It came in at #180, and was given to 70 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 2002–2003, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.
Where Alva is popular in 1972
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Ohio#669 · 1 in 16,275
Best ever in a state: #54 in West Virginia, 1910.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | #669 | 5 | 1 in 16,275 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| California | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Illinois | — | — | — |
| Indiana | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| New York | — | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | — | — | — |
| Texas | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Virginia | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys 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 Alva
- 1,708 spots since 2024 (#8,987 → #10,695)
- 3,193 spots since 2020 (#7,502 → #10,695)
- 51 spots since 2015 (#10,644 → #10,695)
- Biggest jump: 143 spots in 1952 (#857 → #714)
- Biggest drop: 175 spots in 1953 (#714 → #889)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1882 at #161 (85 births)
- Births halved by 1908, 26 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 81 yrs · run 1880–1957
- Highest: 1 in 1,337 boys born in 1882 were named Alva (0.07%)
- Latest: 1 in 284,679 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
- 22.6% of all boys named Alva (2,551) were born in this decade
- Mostly boys until 1999, mostly girls since
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 663 | #161 (1882) | #195 |
| 1890s | 689 | #188 (1891) | #203 |
| 1900s | 575 | #228 (1901) | #267 |
| 1910s | 1,978 | #294 (1917) | #329 |
| 1920s | 2,551 | #351 (1921) | #372 |
| 1930s | 1,681 | #385 (1931) | #439 |
| 1940s | 1,216 | #497 (1940) | #574 |
| 1950s | 717 | #695 (1950) | #875 |
| 1960s | 479 | #950 (1961) | #1,113 |
| 1970s | 292 | #1,354 (1973) | #1,741 |
| 1980s | 158 | #2,058 (1980) | #3,161 |
| 1990s | 104 | #4,052 (1995) | #5,480 |
| 2000s | 52 | #5,920 (2000) | #9,099 |
| 2010s | 65 | #6,338 (2017) | #9,272 |
| 2020s | 49 | #7,502 (2020) | #9,139 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Alva in 1972
Top girls' names in 1972
Top boys' names in 1972
More about 1972
girls
1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 52,457 of them was named Alva, which outranked 74.6% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #2,398Walter30
- #2,398Windi30
- #2,398Yael30
- #2,451Alva29
- #2,451Adeline29
- #2,451Aide29
- #2,451Alessandra29
- #2,523Alia28
- #2,523Allie28
- #2,523Amyjo28
Tied with 71 names at #2,451; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 55,918 of them was named Alva, which outranked 72.1% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,566Valentine30
- #1,566Yosef30
- #1,566Zach30
- #1,603Alva29
- #1,603Algernon29
- #1,603Chirstopher29
- #1,603Columbus29
- #1,648Addison28
- #1,648Adonis28
- #1,648Armond28
Tied with 44 names at #1,603; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.