Alward
Ancient Germanic name meaning "elf guard", symbolizing guardianship and protection.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Alward. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Alward today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alward births was 1918 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alward. 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 Alward. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1918
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1918 SSA rank
#3,747
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Alward: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Alward 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 Alward during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Alward
The given name Alward has its origins in the Germanic languages, derived from the elements "alu" meaning "all" and "ward" meaning "guard" or "protector." The name can be traced back to the 9th century and was particularly prevalent among the Anglo-Saxons.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Alward can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of the great survey of England completed in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name appears as a personal name of landowners and freemen in several counties.
In the 12th century, an English cleric and historian named Alward of Beverley (c. 1109 - c. 1157) gained recognition for his work on the genealogy of the Anglo-Saxon kings. His chronicle, known as the "Alward Genealogy," provided valuable insights into the royal lineages of the time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Alward was a Benedictine monk and scholar from the 13th century. Alward of Winchelcombe (c. 1220 - c. 1290) was renowned for his work on astronomy and mathematics, contributing to the advancement of these fields during the medieval period.
In the 14th century, Alward de Welle, an English landowner and knight, played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He participated in several campaigns and battles, earning recognition for his military service.
Moving forward to the 16th century, Alward Oxenbridge (c. 1510 - 1581) was an English priest and academic who served as the Dean of Durham Cathedral. He was known for his involvement in the religious reforms of the time and his contributions to the field of theology.
Throughout its long history, the name Alward has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, scholars, landowners, and military figures. While its popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries, the name continues to carry a rich heritage rooted in the Germanic languages and the concept of guardianship and protection.
People
Alward + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alward 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
Alward: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alward?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alward 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 - US residents.
Is Alward a common name?
We classify Alward as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alward most popular?
The single biggest year for Alward was 1918, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alward is about 0 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 Alward in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Alward a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alward 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 Alward still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Alward 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 Alward 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 Americans are named Alward?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Alward at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.