אלתר
Alter means “old one, given to protect a child”
Alter is a boy's name of Yiddish origin.
A Yiddish protective name, given in the hope the child would live to old age.
- In Hebrew
- אלתר
- In English letters
- Alter
- Other Hebrew spellings
- אלטר · אלטער
- Meaning
- Old one, given to protect a child
- Origin
- Yiddish
- Given to
- Boys
- Gematria value
- 631
893 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 carry the name Alter.
- 893 of them are men and boys, and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
- 34 of them were born in 2010, more than in any other year.
- Carriers born 2020 to 2024: 131, against 125 born 2010 to 2014, so its share of births is about the same.
- The total includes the other Hebrew spellings the register counts separately: אלטר, אלטער. The chart shows the spelling אלתר alone.
Central Bureau of Statistics register, April 2025. People who changed their name are counted under the one they carry now, and a year with fewer than five shows as zero.
This is how Alter is counted in each population group.
These are the people born 1949 to 2024 who carry the spelling אלתר today, in each population group and sex the register lists for it. The rank counts the names given in 2024, and 1 is the most given. A count under 5 is not published, so the table says “fewer than 5”, and 0 means nobody.
| Population group | Carriers | Born in 2024 | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish boys | 498 | 18 | 324 of 541 |
In 2024, Alter ranked 324 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Source: the Central Bureau of Statistics table of current first names of people born 1949 to 2024, by sex and population group (release 391/2025 of 8 December 2025, read on 2 November 2026). Groups and sexes with no row for this spelling are left out.
These six names are close to Alter in theme or origin.
These are the questions people ask about the name Alter.
What does the name Alter mean?
Alter means “old one, given to protect a child”. Alter is a boy's name of Yiddish origin. A Yiddish protective name, given in the hope the child would live to old age.
Is Alter a boy's name or a girl's name?
Alter is mainly a boy's name. Of the 893 Jewish Israelis born since 1949 who carry it, 893 are men and boys and fewer than 5 are women and girls.
How do you write Alter in Hebrew?
Alter is written אלתר in Hebrew. The register also counts these other Hebrew spellings: אלטר, אלטער.
How many people in Israel are named Alter?
893 Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 carry Alter today. The most were born in 2010. In 2024, Alter ranked 324 of 541 among the names given to Jewish boys.
Counts are Jewish Israelis born 1949 to 2024 who carry the name today, from the Central Bureau of Statistics register of April 2025. Meanings follow the standard etymologies of Hebrew name references, and where nobody can be sure the page says so.