Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, have shared the joyful news of their newborn son’s arrival. They have named him Alec Neel Vance. Although the name Alec has a classic sound, it is not as popular today as it once was.
The announcement came on Sunday through a statement on Instagram and X (@jdvance). “We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning,” Vance wrote. “Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother.”
The couple expressed gratitude to the military doctors and staff at the Walter Reed Medical Center and the White House Medical Unit. The official White House X account also congratulated the Vances, recognizing the birth of their fourth child.
“Congratulations to Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance on the birth of their fourth child!”
Alec’s birth marks a significant moment in U.S. political history, being the first child born to a sitting vice president in over 150 years. The last such occurrence was with Schuyler Colfax in 1870. This event follows the Vances’ January announcement of their pregnancy.
Alec joins his siblings Ewan, 9, Vivek, 6, and Mirabel, 4. Usha Vance, at 40, is part of a demographic with surging birth rates. Births among women aged 40 and older have increased in recent decades, contrasting with declining overall U.S. birth rates.
The choice of the name Alec reflects a shift from its previous popularity. Data from the Social Security Administration shows Alec peaked in 1994 at the 109th position. Since then, the name has declined, reaching 977th place by 2025, with only 234 newborns named Alec last year.
Historically, Alec ranked 650th in 1900, dropped to 939th by 1927, and was at 912th in 1947. It remained in the top 1,000, never ascending past 600, until 1979. That year marked a rise to the peak in 1994. Despite brief gains, such as from 467th to 456th from 2014 to 2015, it continued a decline.
Current naming trends reveal a preference for distinct names. The SSA lists Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, and Henry as the most popular boys’ names in 2025, with Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, and Sophia leading for girls. A 2025 Nameberry survey found that over three-quarters of parents avoid top 10 names, seeking uniqueness.
The Vances’ other children also bear uncommon names such as Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. This choice aligns with their selection of Alec, which mirrors a move towards distinctive, less common names in the U.S.
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