Boys' name · since 1886
Alger
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 832 babies named Alger, peaking in 1919. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5,768 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 832
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
832 boys have been named Alger since 1886, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Alger has 832 recorded births among boys since 1886, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 2008.
- #5,768 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 832 born since 1886
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Alger ranks #5,768 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 832 born since 1886, peaking in the 1920s.
- #5,768 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 832
- born since 1886
- 1920s
- peak decade
Alger's 832 recorded births place it above 87.31% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Michigan.
Alger's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Alger's SSA record in two at 1938 and the more recent half accounts for 37% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 63%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1919 peak of 30, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Alger popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2008
- Peak year (1919)
- 30
- Annual births at peak, across 123 years of records
Alger by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (215 births, 26% of the file).
1920s was Alger's strongest decade.
215 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Alger births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 18
1880s
18 births
- 1890s 17
1890s
17 births
- 1900s 10
1900s
10 births
- 1910s
1910s
157 births
- 1920s
1920s
215 births
- 1930s
1930s
135 births
- 1940s
1940s
106 births
- 1950s
1950s
94 births
- 1960s 40
1960s
40 births
- 1970s 35
1970s
35 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 215 births (26% of all-time use).
How Alger compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Alger's total volume
Alger by state
Where Alger concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Michigan | | 134 | 16.1% |
134 of 832 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Alger's data
- Alger's decade-level peak was the 1920s (215 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Michigan records the most Algers (134 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Michigan names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Alger
Nearby Names Like Alger
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Alger
Compare Alger side by side: Alger vs Algie Alger vs Algernon Alger vs Algis
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Alger: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1919)
Similar record span (~122 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–2008 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Alger draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.