Where does the name Alvin come from?

Alvin is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Alvin a boy or a girl name?

Alvin is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Alvin are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Alvin in 2023?

Alvin ranks #765 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1927 with 2,908 babies.

How do you pronounce Alvin?

Alvin is pronounced AL-vin (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Alvin?

Alvin is also written as Alvyn, Alwin.

A name from Old English · Boy

Alvin

From Old English Ælfwine — ælf ('elf') + wine ('friend'); 'elf-friend'. Briefly out of use after the Middle Ages and revived as a given name in 19th-century America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

160,802 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

337 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

AFrom Old English Ælfwine — ælf ('elf') + wine ('friend'); 'elf-friend'. Briefly out of use after the Middle Ages and revived as a given name in 19th-century America.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Alvin".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Alvyn Most common Alwin

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Alvin.

A
Alvin Ailey (modern dancer and choreographer)
A
Alvin (Chipmunks)
A
Alvin Kamara (NFL running back)

Quick answers

People often ask about Alvin.

What does the name Alvin mean?: Alvin means from Old English Ælfwine — ælf ('elf') + wine ('friend'); 'elf-friend'. Briefly out of use after the Middle Ages and revived as a given name in 19th-century America.
Where does the name Alvin come from?: Alvin is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Alvin a boy or a girl name?: Alvin is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Alvin are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Alvin in 2023?: Alvin ranks #765 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1927 with 2,908 babies.
How do you pronounce Alvin?: Alvin is pronounced AL-vin (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Alvin?: Alvin is also written as Alvyn, Alwin.

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From Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl

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From the Middle English surname todde meaning 'fox' — a nickname applied to a cunning or fox-haired person

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.