Alverna
A girl's name of Germanic origin with 991 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a village in Wijchen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Alverna is a girl's baby name of Germanic origin, a feminine form of Alvin or Alvern, derived from the Old High German elements adal (noble) and wine (friend), meaning 'noble friend.' It may also connect to the Italian mountain La Verna, where Saint Francis received the stigmata.
Most common in German-American families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Alverna has the dignified, old-fashioned quality of names that were well-loved by grandmothers — poised for the kind of quiet vintage revival that brings names like Alma and Vera back into fashion.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Alverna is rooted in the Germanic tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1891 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Alverna’s 991 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Alverna has 60+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1891.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 20 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 50 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 109 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 192 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 326 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 213 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 50 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 23 | — |
The Story of Alverna
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1926, Alverna is a name steeped in history. Girls named Alverna are most likely born between 1916 and 1936.
How rare is Alverna?
With 991 total births on record, Alverna remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1891, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 326 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Alverna by the numbers
- Would fill 21 school buses
- Meeting one Alverna per day would take 2.7 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(60 years, 1891–1970)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8 | #5831 |
| 1964 | 5 | #6788 |
| 1963 | 5 | #6610 |
| 1962 | 5 | #6596 |
| 1960 | 5 | #6401 |
| 1957 | 5 | #6102 |
| 1956 | 5 | #5978 |
| 1953 | 12 | #3273 |
| 1952 | 7 | #4491 |
| 1951 | 11 | #3288 |
| 1950 | 10 | #3429 |
| 1949 | 11 | #3180 |
| 1948 | 10 | #3357 |
| 1947 | 13 | #2901 |
| 1946 | 14 | #2603 |
| 1945 | 7 | #3682 |
| 1944 | 12 | #2629 |
| 1943 | 12 | #2699 |
| 1941 | 14 | #2275 |
| 1940 | 16 | #2033 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alverna a boy's or girl's name?
When was Alverna most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1891–1970