Alpha
Alpha is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
First letter of the Greek alphabet; the beginning or first.
Origin and history
Alpha is a given name derived from the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Historically used for firstborn children or as a symbolic name denoting leadership or priority, it has a long but modest record of usage in the United States. Today, it remains a rare and distinctive choice for girls.
Popularity in the United States
7,188 babies in the United States have been named Alpha since 1880. It ranks #1991 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2057.
States where it is most popular
- KY (18.6 %)
- TX (17.3 %)
- OK (11.2 %)
- MO (9.5 %)
- AR (6.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 361 |
| 1890-1900 | 704 |
| 1900-1910 | 828 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,537 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,494 |
| 1930-1940 | 837 |
| 1940-1950 | 540 |
| 1950-1960 | 276 |
| 1960-1970 | 150 |
| 1970-1980 | 133 |
| 1980-1990 | 90 |
| 1990-2000 | 95 |
| 2000-2010 | 57 |
| 2010-2019 | 42 |
| 2020-2029 | 44 |
Fun facts
- The word alpha originates from the Phoenician letter aleph, which originally referred to an ox.
- Alpha was historically given to the first child born to a family in late 19th and early 20th century America.