Alvin
Boy name · #838 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Alvin? In official American birth records, Alvin has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 294 baby boys were named Alvin, placing it at #838 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #601, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,122 boys born in 2025 was named Alvin.
Babies named Alvin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Alvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 102 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 2,883 boys were named Alvin — good for #66 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alvin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alvin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alvin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alvin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Alvin is most common in PA (0.4 per 1,000), MO (0.4 per 1,000), IN (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Alvin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Alvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Alvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Melvin, Marvin, Ervin, Elvin, and Mervin.
MelvinMarvinErvinElvinMervinAlfredIrvinAlton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 294 | #838 |
| 2024 | 318 | #791 |
| 2023 | 337 | #765 |
| 2022 | 352 | #737 |
| 2021 | 325 | #770 |
| 2020 | 377 | #681 |
| 2019 | 399 | #663 |
| 2018 | 390 | #655 |
| 2017 | 439 | #603 |
| 2016 | 471 | #585 |
| 2015 | 455 | #601 |
| 2014 | 462 | #595 |
| 2013 | 458 | #569 |
| 2012 | 505 | #521 |
| 2011 | 464 | #548 |
| 2010 | 492 | #526 |
| 2009 | 471 | #560 |
| 2008 | 658 | #436 |
| 2007 | 522 | #505 |
| 2006 | 516 | #503 |
| 2005 | 516 | #483 |
| 2004 | 484 | #505 |
| 2003 | 477 | #510 |
| 2002 | 533 | #457 |
| 2001 | 541 | #447 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alvin?
In official American birth records, the name Alvin first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 102 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alvin a popular boy name?
Alvin ranked #838 among boys in 2025 with 294 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #601.
When was the name Alvin most popular?
Alvin peaked in 1927, when 2,883 American boys received the name (ranked #66 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,122 newborn American boys was named Alvin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.