Alvin

Alvin - A very unique male name

Alvin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #83. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Alvin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Alvin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Alvin. The baby boy name Alvin was given to 243 baby boys in 2025, ranking #840 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,034 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Alvin peaked in popularity 99 years ago in 1927 on position 66.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Alvin, 1-5?

Alvin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Alvin is currently topping the baby name charts in Pennsylvania at position #458 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,484.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Alvin is where you live.

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Alvin origin and meaning

Old English

Usually derived from Ælfwine — ælf, 'elf', and wine, 'friend': 'elf friend'

Alvin is one of the few names to survive from Old English into modern use, built on the 'elf-friend' compound that medieval parents treated as protective. It was a mainstream American name for the first half of the 20th century, peaking in 1927, and has been falling for decades. These days its loudest echo is a cartoon chipmunk — the name itself is far older and more serious than that.

Attested etymology

Alvin is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Alvin, pop culture references for the name Alvin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Alvin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Alvin, sorted by popularity.

Alfonso / Alphonso / Alphonse / Alfonzo / Albin / Albino / Alfonza / Alvino / Alfonse / Alphonzo /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Alvin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Alvin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Alvin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AL-vin · /ˈælvɪn/

Around the world

• Alwin (German) — The German cognate of the same Old English name

Spellings and nicknames

• Alwyn — The Welsh-flavoured spelling of the same name
• Alwin — A spelling variant from the German cognate

Nicknames: Al

Famous bearers

• Alvin Ailey — Choreographer and founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1931–1989) Historical
• Alvin Kamara — NFL running back (b. 1995) Contemporary
• Alvin — The lead chipmunk in Alvin and the Chipmunks, created for the 1958 novelty record (Fictional, 1958) Fictional

Style

ClassicVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Alvin appeals to parents hunting genuine vintage names that have not yet been revived — it has real history and a gentle, bookish sound.

Worth knowing

• Alvin and the Chipmunks is the dominant association for children
• It has been falling for decades, so it will read as a grandfather name to many