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