NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Alp

A Turkish name derived from the Turkic word meaning "brave, heroic.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Alp is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Alp popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1595, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 20 births.

This profile covers 169 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 168 living people in the UK are called Alp. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Alp ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 20 boys were registered as Alp.
  • About 168 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alp as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1595

2024

Births in 2024

16

Latest year

Peak year

2020

20 births

Estimated living

168

2026

Meaning

What does Alp mean?

The name Alp originated from the Turkish language, derived from the Old Turkic word "alp" meaning "brave" or "heroic." It has been a popular name among Turkic-speaking peoples, particularly in Turkey, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East, for centuries.

Historically, the term "alp" referred to a warrior or hero in ancient Turkic cultures. It was often used as a title or honorific for those who displayed exceptional bravery and courage in battle. The earliest known record of the name Alp can be traced back to the 8th century, during the reign of the Göktürk Khaganate, a major Turkic nomadic confederation that ruled over vast territories in Central Asia.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Alp was Alp Arslan (1030-1072), a Sultan of the Seljuk Empire. He was renowned for his military prowess and expansion of the Seljuk territories, defeating the Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes in the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, a pivotal event that opened the way for the Turkic conquest of Anatolia.

Another famous bearer of the name was Alp Tekin (died 963), a military commander and governor who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Ghaznavid Dynasty in modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was known for his strategic military campaigns and successful conquests in the region.

In the realm of literature, Alp Ar Tonga was a legendary hero celebrated in the Kyrgyz Epic of Manas, one of the longest epic poems in the world. This epic portrays Alp Ar Tonga as a brave warrior and companion of the epic's main protagonist, Manas.

The name Alp has also been used by notable figures in more recent history, such as Alp Arslan Özkan (1910-1949), a Turkish writer and diplomat, and Alp Navruz (1969-2021), a Kurdish singer and activist from Turkey.

While the name Alp has its roots in the Turkic cultures, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in regions with historical Turkic influences or connections. However, its primary association remains with the Turkic peoples and their rich cultural heritage, where it continues to be a name that evokes bravery, heroism, and a connection to ancient warrior traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alp over time

The chart below shows babies named Alp registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Alp, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alp
05101520199820112024

Decades

Alp by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alp was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1733 79 5
2010s #3088 64 9
2000s #3136 21 5
1990s #2074 5 1

Related

Names similar to Alp

FAQ

Alp: questions and answers

How popular is the name Alp in the UK right now?

In 2024, Alp was ranked #1595 for boys in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.

When was Alp most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 20 babies registered as Alp in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alp?

A Turkish name derived from the Turkic word meaning "brave, heroic.".

How many people are called Alp in the UK?

A total of 169 babies have been registered as Alp across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.