What does Alva mean?
Alva comes from the Old Norse for “elf,” a being of light.
What does Frida mean?
Frida comes from the Old Norse and Germanic for “peace.”
Alva vs Frida
Which is more popular?
Frida is more popular than Alva today: about 135 US babies were given the name Frida in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
| Alva | Frida | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf | Peace |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AHL-vah | FREE-dah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1892 |
| Peak year | 1918 (196) | 2017 (418) |
| In 2025 | 22 | 135 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alva
Frida
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alva | Frida |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 176 | 1,320 |
| 2010s | 197 | 3,077 |
| 2000s | 132 | 3,159 |
| 1990s | 157 | 648 |
| 1980s | 279 | 37 |
| 1970s | 316 | 45 |
| 1960s | 519 | 50 |
| 1950s | 797 | 29 |
| 1940s | 875 | 6 |
| 1930s | 1,185 | 26 |
| 1920s | 1,591 | 42 |
| 1910s | 1,404 | 37 |
| 1900s | 604 | 5 |
| 1890s | 475 | 10 |
| 1880s | 182 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alva or Frida more popular?
Frida is more popular than Alva today: about 135 US babies were given the name Frida in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
What is the difference between Alva and Frida?
Alva means Elf (Norse origin), while Frida means Peace (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Alva or Frida?
In US records, Alva first appears in 1880 and Frida in 1892, so Alva has the longer recorded history.