Alta
Girl name · #4266 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Alta? In official American birth records, Alta has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 33 baby girls were named Alta, placing it at #4266 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #5458, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 54,545 girls born in 2025 was named Alta.
The 145-year story
Alta first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 91 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 820 girls were named Alta — good for #221 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Alta per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alta against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alta in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alta is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alta will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alta is most common
State-level data for Alta is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Alta
Statistically, parents drawn to Alta tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Vita, Alida, Elva, Elma, and Ora.
VitaAlidaElvaElmaOraAugustaRowenaMarietta
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alta | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | #4265 |
| 2024 | 20 | #5962 |
| 2023 | 30 | #4565 |
| 2022 | 31 | #4472 |
| 2021 | 35 | #4090 |
| 2020 | 25 | #5003 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4546 |
| 2018 | 30 | #4562 |
| 2017 | 24 | #5338 |
| 2016 | 34 | #4250 |
| 2015 | 24 | #5458 |
| 2014 | 19 | #6451 |
| 2013 | 30 | #4645 |
| 2012 | 15 | #7804 |
| 2011 | 21 | #6148 |
| 2010 | 17 | #7217 |
| 2009 | 18 | #7066 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7408 |
| 2007 | 19 | #6812 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8237 |
| 2005 | 21 | #5800 |
| 2004 | 15 | #7391 |
| 2003 | 16 | #6885 |
| 2002 | 22 | #5254 |
| 2001 | 20 | #5570 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alta?
In official American birth records, the name Alta first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 91 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alta a popular girl name?
Alta ranked #4266 among girls in 2025 with 33 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5458.
When was the name Alta most popular?
Alta peaked in 1918, when 820 American girls received the name (ranked #221 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alta?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 54,545 newborn American girls was named Alta. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.