Al Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Al has its origins in Arabic, meaning 'the'. It has evolved through various historical forms and is often used as a prefix in Arabic names. In Western cultures, it is commonly a short form of names like Albert and Alfred. The name is viewed positively and is associated with notable figures in entertainment and politics.
The name Al is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Al has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Al' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 471st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 419th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 421st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 673rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1130th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3093rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5519th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4408th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4514th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6652nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9489th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Al' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Al"
Pronunciation
/æl/
Origin
Arabic
Etymology
The name Al is derived from the Arabic definite article 'al-', which means 'the'. It is often used as a prefix in Arabic names.
Meaning
The
Language Evolution
Al, Abd, Al-, Abdel
Historical Usage
The name Al gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in Western cultures as a short form for names like Albert or Alfred.
Variants & Derivatives
Alfred, Albert, Alvin, Alberto
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Al is often perceived as a friendly and approachable name, commonly associated with a variety of longer names.
Famous People
Al Pacino, Al Gore, Al Roker
Explore More Al Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Al"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Al"
"Al" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 471st of 7545 | 2,643 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 419th of 6773 | 3,492 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 421st of 7552 | 6,012 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 673rd of 10718 | 2,383 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1130th of 16616 | 1,341 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3093rd of 24088 | 525 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5519th of 23106 | 198 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4408th of 9107 | 74 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4514th of 9204 | 71 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6652nd of 12526 | 58 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9489th of 19264 | 52 |
Regional Popularity of "Al" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
33.47% 474th/1416 |
26.61% 367th/1379 |
26.63% 630th/2366 |
42.12% 481st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
26.65% 412th/1546 |
23.33% 363rd/1556 |
19.46% 458th/2353 |
21.33% 330th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
17.74% 395th/2227 |
17.28% 420th/2430 |
14.20% 405th/2853 |
15.60% 433rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
24.79% 728th/2937 |
16.88% 588th/3483 |
17.08% 601st/3518 |
18.22% 737th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
34.68% 1278th/3685 |
21.25% 951st/4475 |
21.45% 1114th/5194 |
20.71% 1308th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.85% 3292nd/4582 |
45.12% 2330th/5164 |
45.59% 3334th/7313 |
42.22% 3151st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
83.98% 3768th/4487 |
- | - |
Regional Popularity of "Al" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Al"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Al" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.