What does Alva mean?
Alva comes from the Old Norse for “elf,” a being of light.
What does Signe mean?
Signe joins the Old Norse for “new” and “victory.”
Alva vs Signe
Which is more popular?
Alva is more popular than Signe today: about 22 US babies were given the name Alva in 2025, compared with 8 named Signe.
| Alva | Signe | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf | New victory |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AHL-vah | SIG-nuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 1918 (196) | 1915 (67) |
| In 2025 | 22 | 8 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Alva
Signe
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Alva | Signe |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 176 | 93 |
| 2010s | 197 | 195 |
| 2000s | 132 | 186 |
| 1990s | 157 | 152 |
| 1980s | 279 | 110 |
| 1970s | 316 | 133 |
| 1960s | 519 | 189 |
| 1950s | 797 | 292 |
| 1940s | 875 | 283 |
| 1930s | 1,185 | 117 |
| 1920s | 1,591 | 269 |
| 1910s | 1,404 | 454 |
| 1900s | 604 | 254 |
| 1890s | 475 | 228 |
| 1880s | 182 | 48 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alva or Signe more popular?
Alva is more popular than Signe today: about 22 US babies were given the name Alva in 2025, compared with 8 named Signe.
What is the difference between Alva and Signe?
Alva means Elf (Norse origin), while Signe means New victory (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Alva or Signe?
In US records, Alva first appears in 1880 and Signe in 1884, so Alva has the longer recorded history.