Given name & surname · also Germanic
Alaric
“a noble ruler”
Alaric is used as a given name and a surname. One German interpretation is “a noble ruler.”
Original GermanAlarich
Meaning & origin
What it means
One German interpretation is “a noble ruler.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Germanic.
How it developed
One proposed formation combines ala (“all”) or ali (“stranger”) and ric (“power, ruler”).
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1949. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Alaric through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,961
- 3,961 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 279 babies
- 2025
- 205
- #1,063 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 205 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,063 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 0.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,260 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Alaric’s family of names
Alaric has a feminine form in Alarice. Alaric has a related form in Alrick. Alaric has a related form in Alric.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Alaric has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Proto-Germanic roots to each of them.
6 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Alarivariant · Estonian
- Alarickvariant
- Alricvariant
- Alrickvariant
- Alericvariant
- Allarvariant · Estonian
- Allerickvariant
- Allericvariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Alaric
- Alaric IKing of the Visigoths370–410
- Alaric IIKing of the Visigoths Balti dynasty458–507
- Alaric Alexander WattsBritish poet and journalist (1797–1864)
- Alaric BassonSouth African swimmerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alaric, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Axel
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Otto
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Callan
“one who is powerful in battle” · “a talkative woman”
95% boys · 5% girls
Brix
Brix is a surname from German.
99% boys · 1% girls
Barrett
“having the strength of a bear” · “an argumentative person”
98% boys · 2% girls
Kahlo
Kahlo is a surname from German.
91% boys · 9% girls
Ripp
“powerful” · “bright, famous”
>99% boys