Total births
408
Boys' name · since 1915
Alter
Since 1915, U.S. Social Security records show 408 babies named Alter, peaking in 2012. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 408
- total births
- 1915–2025
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
Alter sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 408 recorded since 1915.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Alter has been recorded 408 times among boys since 1915, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1915 to 2025.
- 408 total births
- 1915–2025 years on record
- 2000s peak decade
- 26% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
408 boys have been named Alter since 1915, peaking in the 2000s, last recorded in 2025.
- 408
- total births
- 1915–2025
- years on record
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
2000s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Alter was born in this single decade.
2012
Single peak year
21 babies were named Alter in 2012 - its busiest year on record.
Alter's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Alter's SSA record in two at 2000 and the more recent half accounts for 65% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 35%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1915, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2012 peak of 21, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Alter at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
2012
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1915
Alter popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1915–2025
- Peak year (2012)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 111 years of records
Alter popularity over time - girls
18 total births recorded since 1914 (Alter as girls' name)
Alter by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Alter's strongest decade.
107 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Alter births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 12
1910s
12 births
- 1920s 13
1920s
13 births
- 1930s 11
1930s
11 births
- 1940s 5
1940s
5 births
- 1950s 12
1950s
12 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 11
1970s
11 births
- 1980s 32
1980s
32 births
- 1990s 42
1990s
42 births
- 2000s
2000s
107 births
- 2010s
2010s
104 births
- 2020s
2020s
54 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 107 births (26% of all-time use).
Alter by state
Where Alter concentrates geographically, total births since 1915
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 172 | 42.2% |
| #2 | New Jersey | | 5 | 1.2% |
New York share of Alter's total US births 42.2%
Even split
172 of 408 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Alter? ▼
408 babies have been named Alter since 1915. It was last recorded in 2025. The peak year was 2012 with 21 births.
When was Alter most popular? ▼
Alter was most popular in the 2000s decade with 107 total births. The single peak year was 2012.
Where is Alter most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Alter are New York (172 births), New Jersey (5 births).
How long has the name Alter been used? ▼
Alter has been recorded in Social Security data since 1915, spanning 111 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Alter? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Alton, Alto, Altair, Altariq, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Alter's data
- Alter's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (107 total births) through the 2020s (54) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Alters (172 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Alter
Nearby Names Like Alter
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Alter
Alton Boy
#1573 47,457 births
Alto Boy
561 births
Altair Boy
#4186 245 births
Altariq Boy
211 births
Altonio Boy
194 births
Compare Alter side by side: Alter vs Alton Alter vs Alto Alter vs Altair
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1915–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Alter: Baby Name Since 1915 - 408 Births, Peak 2012." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/alter. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Alter 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 June 2026.