Aalap
A Hindi masculine name meaning a melodic phrase in Indian classical music.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Aalap. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Aalap today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aalap births was 1990 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aalap. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Aalap. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1990
6 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
1990 SSA rank
#7,178
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Aalap: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Aalap by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Aalap during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Aalap
The name Aalap has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating in ancient India. The word "aalap" in Sanskrit means "introduction" or "prelude," and it was initially associated with the traditional Indian classical music forms. The name gained popularity among Hindu communities, particularly in northern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aalap can be traced back to the 6th century CE. It is believed that a renowned Sanskrit scholar and grammarian, Aalap Mishra, lived during this period. His seminal work, "Aalapadipika," was a commentary on the ancient Sanskrit grammar text "Ashtadhyayi" by Panini.
In the 12th century, an influential Hindu philosopher and logician, Aalap Bhaṭṭa, made significant contributions to the field of Navya-Nyaya, a school of Indian logic and epistemology. His treatise, "Aalapavatarika," explored the intricacies of logical reasoning and inference.
During the 16th century, Aalap Singh, a Rajput warrior and chieftain from the region of present-day Rajasthan, played a pivotal role in defending his kingdom against foreign invaders. His bravery and strategic acumen earned him a place in the annals of Rajput history.
In the realm of Indian classical music, the name Aalap is closely associated with the introductory section of a raga performance, where the artist gradually unfolds the melodic structure and establishes the tonal foundation. One of the most revered Indian classical musicians, Aalap Shankar, born in 1876, was a maestro of the sitar and a pioneer in the propagation of Indian music on a global scale.
Another notable figure bearing the name Aalap is Aalap Nayar, a renowned Indian poet, and writer of the 20th century. Born in 1923, his poetic works, infused with social and political commentary, garnered critical acclaim and influenced the literary landscape of modern India.
While the name Aalap has ancient roots and historical significance, it continues to resonate with contemporary Indian families, particularly those with a penchant for names rooted in Sanskrit and the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Aalap + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aalap as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Aalap: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aalap?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aalap going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Aalap a common name?
We classify Aalap as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aalap most popular?
The single biggest year for Aalap was 1990, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aalap is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Aalap in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Aalap a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Aalap in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Aalap still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Aalap in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Aalap can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Aalap?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Aalap, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.