Alva
Alva is a unisex given name. It is used in Sweden and Norway as a feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf." It is also a spelling variant of the Biblical masculine name Alvah, meaning "his highness." Alva is a currently popular name in Sweden, where it was ranked among the ten most popular names given to newborn girls in 2012. Notable people with the name include:
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- English
Meaning & Origin of Alva
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Alva is a unisex given name. It is used in Sweden and Norway as a feminine form of the name Alf, meaning "elf." It is also a spelling variant of the Biblical masculine name Alvah, meaning "his highness." Alva is a currently popular name in Sweden, where it was ranked among the ten most popular names given to newborn girls in 2012. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Danish
- English
The Story of Alva
As a girl name
American parents first put Alva on the record books as a girl name in 1880, with 17 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 196 Alvas were born — ranking #483 that year. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,103 among girl names with 25 births, gradually falling (-10%). In total, more than 9K Alvas 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 Alva as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 70 babies received it. 1917 was its biggest year on record, with 317 newborns named Alva — #294 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 23% of all recorded Alvas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (8 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 11K Alvas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Alva
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Alva. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Alva
Phonetically similar names — useful when Alva 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 Alva
What does the name Alva mean?
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How popular is Alva in 2026?
When was Alva most popular?
In which U.S. states is Alva most popular?
Is Alva a unisex name?
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What are nicknames or variants of Alva?
About the name Alva
Alva is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 11K births in the dataset. Alva's peak popularity came in 1917 when it ranked #294. Use the chart and map above to compare Alva's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1917 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all boy 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.