Alterick
Potentially from Old English words meaning "noble" and "powerful ruler".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Alterick. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Alterick today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alterick births was 1975 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alterick. 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 Alterick. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1975
7 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1975 SSA rank
#4,326
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Alterick: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Alterick 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 Alterick during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Geography
Where Altericks live
Origin
Meaning and history of Alterick
The name Alterick is an ancient one, with its origins rooted in the Germanic tribes of Central Europe during the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old Germanic words "ald" meaning "old" and "ric" meaning "powerful" or "ruler." Historians have theorized that the name was initially given to those who held positions of authority or were respected elders within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alterick can be found in the Codex Aureus, a 9th-century illuminated manuscript containing the Gospels. This text, written in the Carolingian minuscule script, mentions an individual named Alterick who was a nobleman in the court of Charlemagne, the renowned Frankish ruler.
During the Middle Ages, the name Alterick gained prominence across various Germanic regions, particularly in areas now known as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Several historical figures bore this name, including Alterick von Köln, a 12th-century bishop of Cologne known for his contributions to the city's architecture and cultural development.
In the 14th century, Alterick der Ritter, a German knight, gained recognition for his valor and military exploits during the Hundred Years' War. His deeds were immortalized in local folklore and ballads, further cementing the name's association with strength and bravery.
Another notable bearer of the name was Alterick Faust, a 16th-century German scholar and alchemist. While his name is often overshadowed by the legendary figure of Doctor Faustus, Faust's writings on natural philosophy and his contributions to early modern science have been acknowledged by historians.
In the realm of literature, the name Alterick made an appearance in the epic poem "Nibelungenlied," a masterpiece of Middle High German literature. The character of Alterick is portrayed as a loyal and courageous warrior, further reinforcing the name's connotations of valor and strength.
While the name Alterick has faded in popularity over the centuries, its rich historical legacy serves as a testament to its enduring significance within the Germanic cultural tradition.
People
Alterick + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alterick 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
Alterick: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alterick?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alterick 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Alterick a common name?
We classify Alterick as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alterick most popular?
The single biggest year for Alterick was 1975, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alterick is about 52 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 Alterick in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Alterick a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alterick 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 Alterick still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Alterick 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 Alterick 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 are called Alterick?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Alterick, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.