Alphonse is a distinctive and historic given name of Italian origin. It is composed of the elements 'adal' meaning noble and 'fons' meaning source or founder. Therefore, Alphonse translates to "noble-founder" in English. This name has been popular among European royalty and nobility throughout history.
The name Alphonse is thought to have originated from the Germanic tribe called the Alamanni, who settled in what is now southwest Germany and Alsace, France. The first recorded use of the name was by a 9th-century Frankish nobleman named Adalfonso. Over time, the name evolved into its current form, Alphonse.
One of the most notable figures with the name Alphonse was Alphonse XIII, who reigned as King of Spain from 1886 to 1931. He played a significant role in shaping modern Spanish history, notably by surviving several political crises and exile during the Second Republic. Today, the name Alphonse continues to be used throughout Europe, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain.
In literature and arts, Alphonse has been used as a character name, perhaps most famously in the French novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, where Alphonse d'Herveau is a secondary character. This further contributed to the name's popularity and recognition across cultures.
The statistics provided show the number of births with the name Alphonse in the United States each year from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1965, there was a steady rise in the number of babies named Alphonse. The peak occurred in 1917 when 357 births were recorded. However, after this period, the popularity of the name began to decline gradually until the late 1960s.
In the decades following, the popularity of the name remained low, with fewer than 50 births per year from 1970 to 2000. The lowest point was in 1987 when only 12 babies were named Alphonse.
However, since around 2016, there has been a resurgence in popularity for the name Alphonse, with over 40 births recorded annually up until 2023.
Overall, while the popularity of the name Alphonse has fluctuated significantly throughout history, it appears that interest in the name is once again on the rise.