Altus
A Latin-derived name meaning "high" or "lofty".
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Altus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Altus today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Altus births was 1928 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Altus. 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 Altus is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Altus' were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Altus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
1928
9 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1966 SSA rank
#3,957
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Altus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Altus from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 37 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
Altus 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 Altus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Altus' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Altus
The given name Altus has its origins in Latin, derived from the word "altus," which means "high" or "tall." This name was commonly used in ancient Rome and is believed to have been initially applied to individuals of impressive stature or those born into noble or elevated social classes.
In ancient Roman texts, the name Altus can be found in various historical records and inscriptions, often associated with prominent figures from the era. One notable bearer of this name was Altus Plautius, a Roman senator and consul who lived during the 1st century AD.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Altus maintained a presence, particularly among scholarly and ecclesiastical circles, where Latin remained the language of learning and religious texts. During this period, several individuals bearing the name Altus left their mark on history, including Altus of Munster, a Benedictine monk and chronicler from the 11th century.
As the Renaissance dawned in Europe, the name Altus experienced a resurgence in popularity, often bestowed upon individuals from noble or aristocratic families. One such figure was Altus Manfredi, an Italian nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Papal States and the Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century.
Moving into the early modern era, the name Altus continued to be favored by scholars and intellectuals. Altus Vitellius, a Dutch philosopher and writer from the 17th century, made notable contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics during his lifetime.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Altus Montague, an English architect and engineer from the 18th century, who was responsible for designing several notable landmarks, including the famous Montague Bridge in London.
While the name Altus may not have achieved widespread popularity in more recent times, it has left an indelible mark on history, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds who have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, religion, philosophy, and architecture.
People
Altus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Altus 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
Altus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Altus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Altus 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 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Altus a common name?
We classify Altus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 82 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Altus most popular?
The single biggest year for Altus was 1928, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Altus is about 76 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 Altus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Altus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Altus 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 Altus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Altus 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 Altus 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 Altus as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Altus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.