Alfonso first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Alfonso has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Alfonso

A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "noble and ready".

Popularity of Alfonso by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Alfonso is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Alfonso being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 224 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Alfonso.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 224 0
2022 249 0
2021 262 0
2020 209 0
2019 228 0
2018 234 0
2017 279 0
2016 229 0
2015 293 0
2014 263 0
2013 286 0
2012 282 0
2011 279 0
2010 304 0
2009 382 0
2008 430 0
2007 499 0
2006 457 0
2005 455 0
2004 458 0
2003 455 0
2002 468 0
2001 428 0
2000 476 0
1999 490 0
1998 485 0
1997 506 0
1996 508 0
1995 494 0
1994 529 0
1993 544 0
1992 532 0
1991 573 6
1990 537 0
1989 496 0
1988 501 0
1987 437 7
1986 489 5
1985 458 0
1984 399 0
1983 420 0
1982 429 5
1981 460 0
1980 448 5
1979 441 0
1978 415 5
1977 413 0
1976 382 0
1975 433 0
1974 396 0

The history of the first name Alfonso

The name Alfonso has its origins in the medieval Iberian Peninsula, derived from the Germanic name Āḷf-funz, meaning "ready for battle." It combines the elements "alf" (elf or supernatural being) and "funz" (ready or willing). The name gained prominence during the Christian Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslim Moors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alfonso dates back to the 8th century, when Alfonso I (693-757) ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Asturias, establishing the first Christian monarchy in the region. His reign marked the beginning of the Reconquista, a centuries-long campaign to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule.

In the 11th century, Alfonso VI (1040-1109), known as "The Brave," became the first King of Castile and León, uniting the two powerful kingdoms. His reign saw significant territorial gains against the Moors and the establishment of a code of laws known as the Fuero Juzgo.

The name Alfonso also has religious ties, as it was borne by several Catholic saints, including Alfonso Maria de' Liguori (1696-1787), a renowned theologian and founder of the Redemptorist religious order, who was canonized in 1839.

Among other notable figures, Alfonso X (1221-1284), known as "The Wise," was a prolific ruler of Castile and León, renowned for his patronage of literature, science, and the arts. He oversaw the creation of the Alfonsine Tables, a groundbreaking work in astronomy and navigation.

In the 15th century, Alfonso V (1396-1458), also known as "The Magnanimous," ruled as the King of Aragon, Naples, and Sicily. He was a significant patron of the arts and humanism during the Italian Renaissance.

Throughout history, the name Alfonso has been associated with various rulers, intellectuals, and religious figures, reflecting its enduring presence in the Iberian Peninsula and its cultural significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alfonso was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alfonso, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Alfonso first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/alfonso-meaning-and-history/.

"Alfonso first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/alfonso-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Alfonso first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/alfonso-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.