Alpha
Alpha is a unisex given name. Notable people named Alpha include:Alpha Acosta, Mexican actress Alpha Bâ, Senegalese footballer Alpha Bangura, American-Sierra Leone basketball player Alpha Barry, Burkinabé politician and journalist Alpha Blondy, reggae singer and international recording artist Alpha L.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Alpha
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Alpha is a unisex given name. Notable people named Alpha include:Alpha Acosta, Mexican actress Alpha Bâ, Senegalese footballer Alpha Bangura, American-Sierra Leone basketball player Alpha Barry, Burkinabé politician and journalist Alpha Blondy, reggae singer and international recording artist Alpha L.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Alpha
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Alpha as a girl name dates back to 1880, when 26 babies received it. 1916 was its biggest year on record, with 198 newborns named Alpha — #451 in the national rankings. The 1910s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 21% of all recorded Alphas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 7K Alphas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Alpha as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 6 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 74 newborns named Alpha — #2,037 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,155 among boy names with 69 births, gradually rising (+15%). In total, more than 3K Alphas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Alpha
Phonetically similar names — useful when Alpha 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 Alpha
What does the name Alpha mean?
What is the origin of the name Alpha?
How popular is Alpha in 2026?
When was Alpha most popular?
In which U.S. states is Alpha most popular?
Is Alpha a unisex name?
What names go well with Alpha?
About the name Alpha
Alpha is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 7K births in the dataset. Alpha's peak popularity came in 1916 when it ranked #451. Use the chart and map above to compare Alpha's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1916 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.