Alvin

Meaning: Its source is Aelfwine, an Old English name meaning "Magical friend."

Languages: This boy's name is used in English.

Nicknames: Al

Alternative Spellings: Elvin, Alven and Alvyn

Variant Forms: Alvan, Alwin, Alwyn, Elwin, Elwyn, Ailwyn and Aylwin

Feminine Forms: Alvina

Source Forms: Aelfwine

Popularity: The name Alvin ranked 468th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 169th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: Depending on the derivation of the first part of this name, it could mean ''precious friend.''

Arts and Music

Alvin Lee
- Performer with Ten Years After at Woodstock (see list of Performers at Woodstock)

Leadership

Alvin A. Schall
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, Federal Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)

Miscellaneous

Alvin Ailey (born 1931, died 1989)
American choreographer.
- 1976 Spingarn Medal winner (see list of Spingarn Medal Winners)

Science and Philosophy

Alvin M. ''Tex'' Johnston
Boeing test pilot.
- Member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (see list of National Aviation Hall of Fame)

Sports

Alvin Adams
- 1975-76 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year (see list of NBA Rookies of the Year)
Alvin Dark
Baseball player.
- 1948 baseball Rookie of the Year (see list of National League Rookies of the Year)
Alvin Davis
Baseball player.
- 1984 American League Rookie of the Year (see list of American League Rookies of the Year)
Alvin ''Doggie'' Julian
American basketball coach.
- Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1967 (see list of Basketball Hall of Fame)
Alvin Kraenzlein
American athlete.
- 1900 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for 110m Hurdles (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Hurdles)
- 1900 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for Long Jump (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in the Long Jump)

Stage and Screen

Alvin Ailey (born 1931, died 1989)
American choreographer.
- 1988 Kennedy Center Honors recipient (see list of Kennedy Center Honors Recipients)
Alvin
Fictional character.
- From ''''Alvin & the Chipmunks'''' (see list of Cartoon characters)

The Literary World

Alvin H. Goldstein
- 1925 Pulitzer Prize winner for Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Reporting)
Alvin Scott McCoy
- 1954 Pulitzer Prize winner for Investigative Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting)
Alvin Schwartz
- Author of Scary Stories in the Dark, More Scary Stories in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (see list of Authors of some of the most frequently banned books between 1990-99, in the United States)