What does Alva mean?
Alva comes from the Old Norse for “elf,” a being of light.
What does Runa mean?
Runa comes from the Old Norse for “secret lore” or “rune.”
Alva vs Runa
Which is more popular?
Runa is more popular than Alva today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
| Alva | Runa | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf | Secret lore, rune |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AHL-vah | ROO-nah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 2000 |
| Peak year | 1918 (196) | 2020 (70) |
| In 2025 | 22 | 62 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alva
Runa
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alva | Runa |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 176 | 372 |
| 2010s | 197 | 208 |
| 2000s | 132 | 44 |
| 1990s | 157 | 0 |
| 1980s | 279 | 0 |
| 1970s | 316 | 0 |
| 1960s | 519 | 0 |
| 1950s | 797 | 0 |
| 1940s | 875 | 0 |
| 1930s | 1,185 | 0 |
| 1920s | 1,591 | 0 |
| 1910s | 1,404 | 0 |
| 1900s | 604 | 0 |
| 1890s | 475 | 0 |
| 1880s | 182 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alva or Runa more popular?
Runa is more popular than Alva today: about 62 US babies were given the name Runa in 2025, compared with 22 named Alva.
What is the difference between Alva and Runa?
Alva means Elf (Norse origin), while Runa means Secret lore, rune (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Alva or Runa?
In US records, Alva first appears in 1880 and Runa in 2000, so Alva has the longer recorded history.