Boy · #1,355 in 2026

Alder

Alders are trees of the genus Alnus in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.

Current Rank
#1,355
Peak Rank
#1,355 (2026)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
+54%
1903
First Year
2023
Last Year
2017
Peak Year
#10685
Peak Rank
59
Total Count
10
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Alder

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Alders are trees of the genus Alnus in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The common name alder evolved from the Old English word alor , which in turn is derived from Proto-Germanic root aliso . The generic name Alnus is the equivalent Latin name, from whence French aulne and Spanish Alamo (Spanish term for " poplar ").

The Story of Alder

Alder first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1915, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 140 Alders were born — ranking #1,355 that year. As of 2026, Alder ranks #1,355 for baby boys with 140 births, rising sharply (+54% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Alders have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Alder

Phonetically similar names — useful when Alder is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alder

What does the name Alder mean?
Alders are trees of the genus Alnus in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species extending into Central America, as well as the northern and southern Andes.
How popular is Alder in 2026?
In 2026, Alder ranks #1,355 among boys' names in the U.S., with 140 babies given the name that year.
When was Alder most popular?
Alder reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,355 that year with 140 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Alder most popular?
Alder has historically been most popular in Oregon, Washington, Colorado. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Alder.
Is Alder a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Alder is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Alder?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Alder include Cleatus, Demetrice, Giorgio. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Alder

Alder is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1915 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Alder's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,355. Use the chart and map above to compare Alder's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.