The first name Alvin

In 2025, 33 boys were named Alvin, making it the 934th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 47 births (#704).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Alvin with other names.

In 2025, 294 boys born in the United States were named Alvin, the 838th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1927, when 2,883 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Spelled Alvin in Catalan, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Turkish and Vietnamese too.

• Alvin Toffler
  American writer, futurist and businessman, 1928–2016
• Alvin Eliot Roth
  American economist, professor, born 1951
• Alvin Ailey
  African-American dancer, choreographer and activist (1931-1989)
• Alvin Ceccoli
  Australian association football player, born 1974
• Alvin Plantinga
  American Christian philosopher, born 1932
• Alvin Kraenzlein
  American athletics competitor (1876-1928)
• Alvin Hansen
  American economist (1887–1975)
• Alvin M. Weinberg
  American nuclear physicist (1915–2006)
• Alvin Robertson
  American basketball player (born 1962)
• Tarell Alvin McCraney
  American playwright, born 1980
• Alvin Harrison
  Athletics competitor, sprinter, 400 metres runner
• Alvin Martin
  English footballer (born 1958)

• Tyler
• Alfred
• Blake
• Grayson
• Stanley
• Tom
• Wyatt
• Miles
• Brandon
• Maxwell
• Landon
• Bradley
• Spencer
• Wesley
• Colton
• Hugh

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Alvin mean?

Alvin means “elf”, “friend” in English.

What is the origin of the name Alvin?

From Old English Ælfwine, made up of ælf (“elf”) + wine (“friend”).

How popular is the name Alvin?

In 2025, 33 boys born in England and Wales were named Alvin, ranking 934th. Its peak was 2012, with 47 births.

Is Alvin a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 162,512 US babies named Alvin since 1880 were boys.

When was Alvin most popular?

1927 in the United States, when 2,883 babies were named Alvin, its highest rank at 66th.

How do you pronounce Alvin?

Alvin is /ˈælvɪn/, 2 syllables.

What are other spellings of Alvin?

Alvyn, Elvin and Alven.

Is Alvin also a surname?

Yes. Alvin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.