Algeria
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly from the Arabic al-jazā'ir meaning "the islands".
Name Census estimates that about 31 living Americans carry the first name Algeria. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Algeria today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Algeria births was 1993 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Algeria. 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 Algeria. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
31
~ 1 in 11,056,592 Americans
Peak year
1993
6 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2000 SSA rank
#15,127
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Algeria: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Algeria from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 22 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Algeria 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 Algeria 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 Algeria
The name Algeria is a relatively modern name that has its origins in the country of Algeria, located in North Africa. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Al-Jaza'ir," which means "the islands." This is a reference to the small islands located off the coast of Algeria in the Mediterranean Sea.
The country of Algeria has a rich history that dates back thousands of years, with various ancient civilizations and empires having ruled over the region. However, the name Algeria itself does not appear to have been used as a personal name until more recent times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Algeria as a personal name is believed to be in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is possible that the name was inspired by the growing nationalism and pride in the country of Algeria during this period, as the region was under French colonial rule until gaining independence in 1962.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Algeria was Algeria Isaacs (1894-1981), an American actress and singer who was active in the early 20th century. She appeared in several Broadway productions and films during the 1920s and 1930s.
Another individual with the name Algeria was Algeria Griffith (1899-1985), an American pianist and composer. She was known for her contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that celebrated African American art and literature in the 1920s.
In the realm of literature, there is Algeria Jones (1923-2015), an American novelist and poet who wrote about the experiences of African Americans in the United States. Her works explored themes of race, identity, and social justice.
Moving into more recent times, there is Algeria Martin (born 1962), an American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and has been nominated for Grammy Awards.
Lastly, Algeria Edmondson (born 1976) is an American actress and comedian known for her roles in television shows such as "A Different World" and "The Parkers."
While the name Algeria is not among the most common given names, it has been used throughout history by individuals from various backgrounds and professions. The name's connection to the country of Algeria and its rich cultural heritage adds a unique and meaningful touch to those who bear it.
People
Algeria + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Algeria 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
Algeria: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Algeria?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 31 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Algeria 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 11,056,592 US residents.
Is Algeria a common name?
We classify Algeria as "Very Rare". It ranks above 47% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 32 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Algeria most popular?
The single biggest year for Algeria was 1993, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Algeria is about 33 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 Algeria in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Algeria a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Algeria in the SSA data are female. 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 Algeria still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Algeria 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 Algeria 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 common is the name Algeria?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Algeria on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.