Given name & surname
Alphonse
“prepared for battle; eager and ready”
Alphonse is a form of Alfonso. One Italian interpretation is “prepared for battle; eager and ready.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Alphonse is a form of Alfonso. One Italian interpretation is “prepared for battle; eager and ready.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Alphonse is a form of Alfonso. A possible origin is Germanic, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French use, Alphonse is used as a form of Alfonso.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Alphonse through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 10,590
- 10,590 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 357 babies
- 2025
- 53
- #2,516 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +34%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 53 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,516 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 34.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 357 in 1918. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,391 as a first name in 2020; 1,507 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Alphonse’s family of names
In English usage, Alphonse has a diminutive in Al. In English usage, Alphonse developed from the Spanish form Alfonso. In French usage, Alphonse has a conventional equivalent in the Italian form Alonzo.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Alphonse has relatives in 10 languages.
11 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 14
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Alphonse
- Alphonse de LamartineFrench author, poet and statesman (1790-1869)
- Al CaponeAmerican gangster (1899–1947)
- Alphonse AreolaFrench footballer (born 1993)
- Jean-Baptiste Alphonse KarrFrench critic, journalist, and novelist (1808-1890)
- Alphonse AllaisFrench writer and humorist (1854–1905)
- Alphonse Pyramus de CandolleSwiss botanist (1806-1893)
- Alfonso II of NaplesKing of Naples (1448-1495)
- Alphonse BorrellyFrench astronomer1842–1926
- Fons RademakersDutch filmmaker, actor and producer (1920-2007)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alphonse, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alpha
Alpha is used as a given name and a surname. One Greek interpretation is “the firstborn child; the first letter of the Greek alphabet.”
89% boys · 11% girls
Armand
“of the army; a soldier”
>99% boys
Antone
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
>99% boys
Alois
“perfectly wise”
>99% boys
Albin
“from the white hill white-” · “from the white hill; whiteskinned”
>99% boys
Elton
“a spontaneous woman” · “from the old town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Arne
“resembling an eagle”
>99% boys
Omer
“a flourishing man; one who is well-spoken”
99% boys · 1% girls