The name Alpha originates from the Greek alphabet, where it is the first letter. The word "alpha" itself comes from the Phoenician word "aleph," meaning "ox." This connection likely stems from a hieroglyphic representation of an ox's head, which was the symbol for the first letter in the Phoenician alphabet.

In ancient Greek, the word "alpha" was used as a term for the beginning or the first in a series. It was often used in philosophical and scientific contexts to indicate something fundamental or primordial. The name Alpha, therefore, carries connotations of being the first, the origin, or the source.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Alpha can be found in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who lived from 428 BC to 348 BC. In his dialogue "Cratylus," Plato discusses the meaning and etymology of various words, including the letter alpha.

Throughout history, the name Alpha has been relatively uncommon as a personal name, but it has been used occasionally. One notable example is Alpha Pendleton (1840-1917), an American educator and activist who founded the Voorhees College in South Carolina, a historically black college.

Another famous individual with the name Alpha was Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. It was founded in 1906 at Cornell University by seven students, including Alpha Phi Alpha (no last name recorded).

In literature, the name Alpha appears in the novel "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, published in 1932. In the book, the character Alpha is a member of the highest social caste in the dystopian society depicted in the story.

Alpha Oumar Konaré (born in 1946) is a Malian politician and former President of Mali, serving from 1992 to 2002. He was a prominent figure in the transition to democracy in Mali after the military dictatorship.

While not a personal name, the term "alpha" is also used in various scientific contexts, such as in the alpha particle in physics, the alpha wave in neuroscience, and the alpha diversity in ecology.