boy's name
Albert
AL-bərt
- Origin Germanic
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 720,061
the United States
#614
2025 births
Albert is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "noble and bright." It combines adal, noble, with beraht, bright or famous, and its British popularity is owed almost entirely to Queen Victoria's consort.
- Albert is a name of Germanic origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1921, when 10,204 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in US records.
- Today about 1 in 596 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Albert over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Albert is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 14,429 |
| 1890s | 13,850 |
| 1900s | 15,402 |
| 1910s | 68,491 |
| 1920s | 94,971 |
| 1930s | 63,188 |
| 1940s | 60,561 |
| 1950s | 53,083 |
| 1960s | 36,586 |
| 1970s | 22,318 |
| 1980s | 18,634 |
| 1990s | 13,986 |
| 2000s | 9,115 |
| 2010s | 6,882 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,924 |
What Albert means
Albert means noble and bright, or famously noble. The second element means shining and by extension renowned, so the name pairs high birth with visible distinction.
Where Albert comes from
Albert descends from the Germanic Adalberht, from adal, noble, and beraht, bright. The Old English cognate Æthelberht belonged to the king of Kent who received Augustine's mission in 597, but like most Anglo-Saxon names it died after the Conquest. The modern English Albert is a reimport, arriving with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who married Victoria in 1840. The name went from rare to nationally common within a decade, which our series still shows, and it left its mark on the Albert Hall, Albert Bridge and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Albert in use
Our data shows Albert stable, peaking in 1921, at 57 in England and Wales against 614 in the United States. It first appears in our records in 1880. Its diminutive Albie sits at 21 in England and Wales — like Freddie and Frederick, the pet form now outranks its parent in Britain.
How popular is Albert?
In 2025, Albert was given to 884 babies in England and Wales, ranking #57 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Albert is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Albert
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Albert also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Albert over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
4 nicknames for Albert
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Albert in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Albert
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Albert — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Albert
What does the name Albert mean?
Albert means "noble and bright," from the Germanic adal, noble, and beraht, bright.
Why did Albert become popular in Britain?
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married Queen Victoria in 1840. The name went from rare to nationally common within a decade.
Is Albie short for Albert?
Usually, though Alban is also possible. Albie is now registered as a full name and outranks Albert in England and Wales.
Is Albert a girl's or a boy's name?
Albert is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Albert?
Albert has 2 syllables.
What are the nicknames for Albert?
Albert is usually shortened to Al, Bert, Albie and Bertie.
Is Albert a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Albert currently ranks #57 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.