Al

♂ Boy

Pronounced AL /ˈæl/High

Meaning: A short form of Albert ('noble and bright', Germanic), Alan, Alfred, and similar Al- names; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Noble; bright: Al is a short form of Albert/Alan. Crisp, vintage, and warm.

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Origin LowGermanic, English

MeaningA short form of Albert ('noble and bright', Germanic), Alan, Alfred, and similar Al- names; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#6822 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births12 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 17,080

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Al is a short form of Albert ('noble and bright', Germanic), Alan, Alfred, and similar Al- names (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, vintage name (said 'AL').

In the U.S. it appears as a classic short form. Rare on its own, noble-and-bright at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Al is a short form of Albert ('noble and bright'), Alan, Alfred, and other Al- names — crisp and vintage (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'AL').

Overall data confidence 30%

References — Al — nickname; routes layered

Variations

AlbertAlanAlfred

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Al…

Albert— a source name

Alan— a source name

Alfred— a source name

Hal— a sound-neighbor short boys' name

Explore names like Al

By themeuncertain english germanic nickname-name

By meaningLight Royal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Al mean?

Al is a short form of Albert ('noble and bright'), Alan, Alfred, and other Al- names; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Al?

It's said AL /ael/ — one syllable.

Is Al a boy or girl name?

Al is a boy's name.

How popular is Al?

Al is a very rare given name in the U.S. today.