What does Alva mean?
Alva comes from the Old Norse for “elf,” a being of light.
What does Ingrid mean?
Ingrid means “beautiful” or “beloved of Ing,” a Norse fertility god.
Alva vs Ingrid
Which is more popular?
Ingrid is more popular than Alva today: about 209 US babies were given the name Ingrid in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
| Alva | Ingrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf | Ing's beauty |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AHL-vah | ING-grid |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1897 |
| Peak year | 1918 (196) | 1967 (578) |
| In 2025 | 22 | 209 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alva
Ingrid
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alva | Ingrid |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 176 | 1,380 |
| 2010s | 197 | 2,946 |
| 2000s | 132 | 4,036 |
| 1990s | 157 | 2,613 |
| 1980s | 279 | 2,504 |
| 1970s | 316 | 3,735 |
| 1960s | 519 | 4,873 |
| 1950s | 797 | 2,606 |
| 1940s | 875 | 1,895 |
| 1930s | 1,185 | 389 |
| 1920s | 1,591 | 341 |
| 1910s | 1,404 | 334 |
| 1900s | 604 | 83 |
| 1890s | 475 | 12 |
| 1880s | 182 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alva or Ingrid more popular?
Ingrid is more popular than Alva today: about 209 US babies were given the name Ingrid in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
What is the difference between Alva and Ingrid?
Alva means Elf (Norse origin), while Ingrid means Ing's beauty (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Alva or Ingrid?
In US records, Alva first appears in 1880 and Ingrid in 1897, so Alva has the longer recorded history.