Alger: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Alger

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1919

30 babies

All-time total

832

#5,770 all-time among boys

First recorded

1886

in Social Security records

Alger popularity over time

832 babies have been named Alger since 1886, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	18	2	–	#816
1890s	17	2	-6%	#664
1900s	10	1	-41%	#1,062
1910s	157	16	+1470%	#1,241
1920s	215	22	+37%	#1,353
1930s	135	14	-37%	#1,585
1940s	106	11	-21%	#1,853
1950s	94	9	-11%	#1,979
1960s	40	4	-57%	#2,862
1970s	35	4	-12%	#3,374
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	5	1	–	#12,623
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

The story of Alger

Alger is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1886, 832 American babies have been named Alger. Its peak came in 1919, when 30 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Alger stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Alger?

The median living Alger is about 71 years old; half are between 62 and 80. An estimated 200 people named Alger are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Alger year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	5	#12,623
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	6	#3,671
1955	16	#1,979
1950	9	#2,584
1945	14	#1,853
1940	8	#2,671
1935	19	#1,585
1930	16	#1,890
1925	19	#1,808
1920	18	#1,887
1915	16	#1,784
1910	6	#1,426
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Alger

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Alger Hiss American diplomat and accused Soviet spy (1904–1996) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Alger, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Alger?

The median living Alger is about 71 years old. Half of all living Algers are between 62 and 80 years old.

How many people named Alger are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Alger are alive in the United States, based on 832 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Alger mean?

A male given name from the Germanic languages, variant of Elgar.

How popular is the name Alger in 2025?

Alger did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Alger?

832 babies have been named Alger in the United States since 1886, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Alger most popular?

Alger peaked in 1919, when 30 newborns received the name.

Is Alger a boy or girl name?

Alger is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Alger rising or falling?

Alger has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Alger?

Well-known people named Alger include Alger Hiss (politician).

Names like Alger

Names that sound and feel close to Alger: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Alger with similar names → More names starting with A →