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Alben
How to Pronounce Alben
Pronounced AL-bun /ˈæl.bən/Medium
Meaning: Alben is a variant of Alban or Albin, from the Latin albus, 'white'; Saint Alban was the first Christian martyr of Britain, and the name was worn by US Vice President Alben W. Barkley.Low
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
Alben is a variant of Alban or Albin, from the Latin albus, 'white.' The base name honors Saint Alban, Britain's first martyr; the Alben spelling gained visibility through Vice President Barkley.
Alben was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak around 1938, and it belongs to an older generation. A boy named Alben then would be past eighty today.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Alben W. Barkley (1877-1956)Vice President of the United States under Harry S. Truman
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Alben mean?
It is a variant of Alban or Albin, from the Latin albus, 'white.'
How do you pronounce Alben?
It is said AL-bun /ˈæl.bən/, two syllables with the stress on the first.
Is Alben a boy or girl name?
Alben is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Alben?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the late nineteen-thirties.