Given name & surname
Alta
“to be elevated”
Alta is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “to be elevated.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “to be elevated.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In English usage, Alta is a short form of Alberta. In English usage, Alta is a short form of CANADA.
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
Alta through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 29,048
- 117 boys · 28,931 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 820 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #4,267 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,267 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 4.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 820 in 1918. In 2025, Utah had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,240 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.
Alta’s family of names
In English usage, Alta is a short form of Alberta. Alta has a related form in Altagracia. In English usage, Alta has a related form in Alberta.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Albertafull form · English
- Altusvariant
- Altovariant
- Canadafull form · English
- Altagraciavariant
- Alltosvariant
- Altosvariant
- Alltusvariant
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Alta
- Allee WillisAmerican songwriter, multi-media artist, collector, and art director (1947-2019)
- Alta Allenactress (1904–1998)
- Alta VášováSlovak writerborn 1939
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alta, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alva
“one who has a fair complexion” · “a bright man”
24% boys · 76% girls
Ora
“one who prays to God”
5% boys · 95% girls
Leta
“one who is glad; joyful; loved by all”
>99% girls
Vita
“life”
>99% girls
Almeta
“one who is ambitious” · “resembling a pearl”
>99% girls
Una
“one who is pure; chaste”
>99% girls
Zita
“patron of housewives and servants” · “little rose”
>99% girls
Pauline
“a petite woman”
>99% girls