Al
Al is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Noble, bright, or defender of mankind (depending on the root name such as Albert, Alexander, or Alfred).
Origin and history
Al originated as a standalone short form for traditional names beginning with Al-, such as Albert, Alexander, Alfred, and Alan. Historically used as an independent given name in the United States, its popularity peaked during the mid-20th century. Today, it is primarily chosen as a concise nickname or a vintage standalone option.
Popularity in the United States
17,079 babies in the United States have been named Al since 1880. It ranks #901 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1849.
States where it is most popular
- NY (14.5 %)
- CA (13 %)
- TX (8.5 %)
- IL (7.7 %)
- LA (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 209 |
| 1890-1900 | 228 |
| 1900-1910 | 385 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,227 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,428 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,924 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,345 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,219 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,520 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,409 |
| 1980-1990 | 972 |
| 1990-2000 | 620 |
| 2000-2010 | 324 |
| 2010-2019 | 191 |
| 2020-2029 | 78 |
Fun facts
- Al functions as a unified nickname for a wide array of historical given names across multiple language traditions.
- Over 17,000 boys in the United States have been given the legal first name Al since official record-keeping began in 1880.