Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1927

Alvan

Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Alvan
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1927
53 babies
All-time total
1,101
#4,820 all-time among boys
First recorded
1883
in Social Security records

Alvan popularity over time

1,101 babies have been named Alvan since 1883, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1883Boys

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 5 1 – #896
1890s – – – –
1900s 5 1 – #1,145
1910s 162 16 +3140% #1,315
1920s 300 30 +85% #951
1930s 186 19 -38% #1,198
1940s 158 16 -15% #1,545
1950s 101 10 -36% #1,838
1960s 49 5 -51% #2,418
1970s 46 5 -6% #3,849
1980s 27 3 -41% #5,355
1990s 13 1 -52% #5,845
2000s 44 4 +238% #7,117
2010s 5 1 -89% #12,287
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Alvan

Alvan 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 1883, 1,101 American babies have been named Alvan. Its peak came in 1927, when 53 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Alvan stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Alvan?

The median living Alvan is about 67 years old; half are between 46 and 78. An estimated 400 people named Alvan are alive in the United States today.

median 67 020406080100

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

Alvan 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 5 #12,287
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 5 #12,575
2008 6 #11,107
2007 11 #7,117
2006 6 #10,738
2005 10 #7,123
2004 – –
2003 6 #9,624
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 5 #8,924
1990 8 #5,845
1985 – –
1980 6 #5,548
1975 8 #3,957
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 8 #3,085
1955 8 #2,971
1950 12 #2,208
1945 13 #1,929
1940 10 #2,327
1935 18 #1,656
1930 19 #1,695
1925 32 #1,280
1920 27 #1,420
1915 23 #1,412
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Alvan

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

  1. 1 Alvan Adams Alvan Adams American basketball player (born 1954) Contemporary
  2. 2 Alvan Clark Alvan Clark American astronomer and telescope maker 1804–1887 · 19th century
  3. 3 Alvan Graham Clark Alvan Graham Clark 19th-century American astronomer 1832–1897 · 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Alvan?

The median living Alvan is about 67 years old. Half of all living Alvans are between 46 and 78 years old.

How many people named Alvan are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Alvan are alive in the United States, based on 1,101 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Alvan in 2025?

Alvan 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 Alvan?

1,101 babies have been named Alvan in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Alvan most popular?

Alvan peaked in 1927, when 53 newborns received the name.

Is Alvan a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Alvan rising or falling?

Alvan has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Alvan?

Well-known people named Alvan include Alvan Adams (basketball player), Alvan Clark (astronomer), Alvan Graham Clark (astronomer).

Names like Alvan

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

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