Alcus
A possibly invented name with an unknown meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Alcus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Alcus today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alcus births was 1926 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alcus. 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
- • The typical person named Alcus is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Alcus' were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Alcus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1926
11 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1950 SSA rank
#3,697
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Alcus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Alcus from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 30 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alcus 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 Alcus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Alcus
The given name Alcus has its origins in ancient Greek culture, dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "alkos," which means "strength" or "courage." The name was initially associated with warriors and soldiers, symbolizing bravery and fortitude on the battlefield.
In Greek mythology, Alcus was the name of a minor hero who fought alongside Heracles (Hercules) during his famous twelve labors. References to this character can be found in various ancient texts, including the works of the Greek poets Hesiod and Pindar.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alcus can be traced back to a famous Athenian general who lived during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE). Alcius Strategos, as he was known, was renowned for his military prowess and his leadership in several crucial battles against the Spartans.
Throughout history, the name Alcus has been borne by several notable individuals. In the 1st century CE, Alcus of Smyrna was a celebrated Greek physician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of medicine.
During the Byzantine era, Alcus Comnenus (1057-1127) was a prominent military commander and member of the Comnenus dynasty. He played a crucial role in defending the Byzantine Empire against the Seljuk Turks and secured several victories in Anatolia.
In the realm of literature, Alcus Milesius (c. 500 BCE) was an ancient Greek writer and mythographer from the Ionian city of Miletus. He is credited with collecting and preserving many of the myths and legends that have shaped Western culture.
Another notable figure bearing the name Alcus was Alcus Palaiologos (1305-1370), a Byzantine nobleman and military leader who fought against the Ottoman Turks in the 14th century. He is remembered for his bravery and heroic efforts in defending the Byzantine territories during a time of great turmoil.
Lastly, Alcus Cantacuzenus (1320-1383) was a Byzantine scholar, diplomat, and historian who served as the Grand Logothete (chancellor) under Emperor John VI Cantacuzenus. His writings provide valuable insights into the political and cultural landscape of the Byzantine Empire during the 14th century.
People
Alcus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alcus 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
Alcus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alcus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alcus 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Alcus a common name?
We classify Alcus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 74 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alcus most popular?
The single biggest year for Alcus was 1926, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alcus is about 87 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 Alcus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Alcus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alcus 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 Alcus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Alcus 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 Alcus 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 Alcus?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.