The baby name Alvah is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈæl.və/ (AL-vuh).
Alvah is Hebrew in Origin.
The baby name Alvah is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈæl.və/ (AL-vuh).
Alvah is Hebrew in Origin.
Alvah is a biblical name of Semitic origin, recorded among the Edomite chiefs in Genesis 36; the parallel list in 1 Chronicles gives the form Aliah. Often linked to the Hebrew root ‘alah, “to ascend,” it carries senses of “exaltation,” “high,” or “ascent.” Pronounced AL-və, it has been used as a masculine or unisex given name in English. Variant spellings and related forms include Alva, Alvia, and Aliah; short form Al is common.
Carried into English by the King James Bible, Alvah saw modest U.S. use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, borne by Alvah C. Roebuck of Sears and author Alvah Bessie. The spelling often overlaps with Scandinavian Alva, a distinct feminine name from Old Norse álfr “elf,” which adds to its cross-gender appeal today. Now rare, Alvah offers vintage gravitas with concise, gentle sounds.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BW | Girls | 0 | #151 | 1 | 4,216 |
| Sweden | Girls | 2018 | #187 | 2 | 1,665 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #547 | 1 | 10,981 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #888 | 5 | 7,044 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #999 | 3 | 16,906 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,691 | 1 | 28,008 |
Alvah is popular in 9 countries — most recent births per country:
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