Fun Facts About the Name Alan
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 363,303 boys named Alan from 1880 through 2025.
- An established favorite: Alan held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 34 consecutive years, from 1938 through 1971.
- More than 364 thousand babies named Alan: U.S. records list 364,379 babies given the name Alan from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,076 girls received the name Alan - about 1 girl for every 338 boys.
What Does the Name Alan Mean?
Alan is an English masculine name whose established meaning is uncertain. It is usually traced to a Breton personal name recorded in medieval Latin as Alanus; Breton is a Celtic language. Two Celtic explanations are often given: one connects the name with a root meaning "rock," and another with a word meaning "handsome." A separate and disputed explanation derives it from the Alani, an Iranian people of late antiquity whose name may be related to a word for "noble" or "Aryan." Because the early forms do not settle the question, the original sense of Alan remains uncertain.
Alan Name History & Origins
The name appears in medieval Latin as Alanus and was common in Brittany, the Celtic-speaking region of northwestern France. Several Breton rulers bore it, including Alan II, Duke of Brittany, in the 10th century. After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Bretons and Normans brought the name to England; Alan Rufus, a Breton noble who accompanied William the Conqueror, became Earl of Richmond and is an early English bearer. The French form of the name is Alain. In Britain, the spellings Allan and Allen became established variants, and in Scotland the Gaelic form Ailean was used. In the 20th century, the mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing was a notable bearer.
How Popular is the Name Alan?
Alan remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1938 to 1971. Its highest annual birth count was in 1955, and people born that year turn 71 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | #15,770 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #16,015 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #16,345 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #8,467 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #11,009 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #11,051 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #9,133 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #11,221 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #13,772 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #12,715 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #15,212 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #8,351 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #6,780 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2003 | #6,590 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #12,232 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #12,112 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #8,045 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #10,376 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #14,188 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,876 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #8,833 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #8,782 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #8,822 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #7,501 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #6,012 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #5,668 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1990 | #5,839 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #5,549 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #5,067 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1987 | #3,527 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1986 | #3,891 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1985 | #4,128 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1984 | #3,992 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #5,154 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #4,719 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #6,809 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #3,856 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #5,754 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #4,936 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #4,659 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #3,541 | 19 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #4,142 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #4,726 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #4,159 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #5,482 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #3,946 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1970 | #2,938 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1969 | #3,319 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #2,872 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1967 | #3,486 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #4,198 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #3,051 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,531 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1963 | #2,623 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #2,263 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1961 | #2,609 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | #2,649 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1959 | #2,760 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #3,232 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #2,728 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #3,494 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,972 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #3,020 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #3,482 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #3,201 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #2,694 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,912 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,726 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #3,351 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,279 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #3,996 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #3,133 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #3,382 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #4,698 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,741 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #4,424 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,868 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,783 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1933 | #3,408 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #3,277 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1931 | #4,337 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,057 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #3,396 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1928 | #3,748 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #3,877 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1926 | #4,860 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1921 | #5,112 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #191 | 1,915 | 0.1121% |
| 2024 | #167 | 2,183 | 0.1273% |
| 2023 | #167 | 2,164 | 0.1267% |
| 2022 | #189 | 2,005 | 0.1149% |
| 2021 | #197 | 1,931 | 0.1105% |
| 2020 | #194 | 1,966 | 0.1140% |
| 2019 | #182 | 2,141 | 0.1194% |
| 2018 | #174 | 2,250 | 0.1239% |
| 2017 | #159 | 2,442 | 0.1320% |
| 2016 | #155 | 2,630 | 0.1386% |
| 2015 | #167 | 2,487 | 0.1298% |
| 2014 | #170 | 2,499 | 0.1301% |
| 2013 | #153 | 2,607 | 0.1378% |
| 2012 | #170 | 2,285 | 0.1205% |
| 2011 | #164 | 2,342 | 0.1233% |
| 2010 | #156 | 2,513 | 0.1310% |
| 2009 | #142 | 2,847 | 0.1435% |
| 2008 | #135 | 3,027 | 0.1484% |
| 2007 | #130 | 3,249 | 0.1566% |
| 2006 | #122 | 3,475 | 0.1691% |
| 2005 | #128 | 3,205 | 0.1605% |
| 2004 | #132 | 3,062 | 0.1543% |
| 2003 | #131 | 3,098 | 0.1568% |
| 2002 | #150 | 2,625 | 0.1352% |
| 2001 | #148 | 2,644 | 0.1361% |
| 2000 | #161 | 2,415 | 0.1230% |
| 1999 | #164 | 2,249 | 0.1171% |
| 1998 | #161 | 2,138 | 0.1119% |
| 1997 | #158 | 2,177 | 0.1155% |
| 1996 | #143 | 2,447 | 0.1292% |
| 1995 | #153 | 2,293 | 0.1205% |
| 1994 | #144 | 2,434 | 0.1260% |
| 1993 | #132 | 2,564 | 0.1307% |
| 1992 | #129 | 2,607 | 0.1305% |
| 1991 | #128 | 2,545 | 0.1260% |
| 1990 | #126 | 2,640 | 0.1285% |
| 1989 | #120 | 2,733 | 0.1366% |
| 1988 | #110 | 2,754 | 0.1439% |
| 1987 | #112 | 2,586 | 0.1385% |
| 1986 | #107 | 2,648 | 0.1438% |
| 1985 | #109 | 2,683 | 0.1452% |
| 1984 | #105 | 2,704 | 0.1498% |
| 1983 | #102 | 2,770 | 0.1545% |
| 1982 | #107 | 2,687 | 0.1481% |
| 1981 | #112 | 2,588 | 0.1445% |
| 1980 | #112 | 2,671 | 0.1497% |
| 1979 | #116 | 2,323 | 0.1349% |
| 1978 | #122 | 2,122 | 0.1292% |
| 1977 | #127 | 2,134 | 0.1299% |
| 1976 | #115 | 2,185 | 0.1392% |
| 1975 | #115 | 2,249 | 0.1440% |
| 1974 | #118 | 2,231 | 0.1419% |
| 1973 | #115 | 2,269 | 0.1456% |
| 1972 | #110 | 2,580 | 0.1591% |
| 1971 | #99 | 3,168 | 0.1791% |
| 1970 | #91 | 3,553 | 0.1912% |
| 1969 | #76 | 3,854 | 0.2155% |
| 1968 | #74 | 3,976 | 0.2288% |
| 1967 | #61 | 4,573 | 0.2622% |
| 1966 | #57 | 4,943 | 0.2772% |
| 1965 | #59 | 5,613 | 0.3017% |
| 1964 | #53 | 6,811 | 0.3418% |
| 1963 | #56 | 6,931 | 0.3413% |
| 1962 | #53 | 7,720 | 0.3732% |
| 1961 | #51 | 8,612 | 0.4055% |
| 1960 | #50 | 8,357 | 0.3920% |
| 1959 | #50 | 8,152 | 0.3819% |
| 1958 | #49 | 8,226 | 0.3876% |
| 1957 | #48 | 8,209 | 0.3805% |
| 1956 | #44 | 8,735 | 0.4129% |
| 1955 | #43 | 9,033 | 0.4385% |
| 1954 | #43 | 8,712 | 0.4273% |
| 1953 | #43 | 8,454 | 0.4286% |
| 1952 | #42 | 8,310 | 0.4275% |
| 1951 | #40 | 8,408 | 0.4466% |
| 1950 | #41 | 7,738 | 0.4322% |
| 1949 | #45 | 7,255 | 0.4090% |
| 1948 | #46 | 7,394 | 0.4214% |
| 1947 | #45 | 7,823 | 0.4276% |
| 1946 | #49 | 6,490 | 0.3996% |
| 1945 | #52 | 5,073 | 0.3769% |
| 1944 | #55 | 4,277 | 0.3138% |
| 1943 | #67 | 3,855 | 0.2701% |
| 1942 | #81 | 3,134 | 0.2269% |
| 1941 | #84 | 2,624 | 0.2136% |
| 1940 | #88 | 2,377 | 0.2051% |
| 1939 | #85 | 2,330 | 0.2105% |
| 1938 | #91 | 2,241 | 0.2020% |
| 1937 | #103 | 1,846 | 0.1731% |
| 1936 | #108 | 1,755 | 0.1692% |
| 1935 | #122 | 1,425 | 0.1368% |
| 1934 | #124 | 1,369 | 0.1326% |
| 1933 | #122 | 1,345 | 0.1357% |
| 1932 | #127 | 1,339 | 0.1282% |
| 1931 | #120 | 1,423 | 0.1369% |
| 1930 | #136 | 1,301 | 0.1186% |
| 1929 | #146 | 1,101 | 0.1024% |
| 1928 | #157 | 964 | 0.0870% |
| 1927 | #178 | 808 | 0.0717% |
| 1926 | #174 | 836 | 0.0753% |
| 1925 | #179 | 804 | 0.0720% |
| 1924 | #217 | 625 | 0.0552% |
| 1923 | #221 | 588 | 0.0536% |
| 1922 | #256 | 479 | 0.0440% |
| 1921 | #289 | 375 | 0.0340% |
| 1920 | #263 | 433 | 0.0407% |
| 1919 | #299 | 330 | 0.0337% |
| 1918 | #302 | 333 | 0.0329% |
| 1917 | #299 | 310 | 0.0335% |
| 1916 | #338 | 251 | 0.0282% |
| 1915 | #346 | 238 | 0.0280% |
| 1914 | #344 | 184 | 0.0281% |
| 1913 | #321 | 158 | 0.0308% |
| 1912 | #381 | 102 | 0.0237% |
| 1911 | #380 | 55 | 0.0243% |
| 1910 | #321 | 59 | 0.0304% |
| 1909 | #348 | 45 | 0.0274% |
| 1908 | #429 | 31 | 0.0201% |
| 1907 | #359 | 38 | 0.0259% |
| 1906 | #411 | 28 | 0.0210% |
| 1905 | #463 | 23 | 0.0174% |
| 1904 | #379 | 29 | 0.0226% |
| 1903 | #393 | 25 | 0.0210% |
| 1902 | #380 | 27 | 0.0220% |
| 1901 | #422 | 20 | 0.0188% |
| 1900 | #431 | 27 | 0.0179% |
| 1899 | #481 | 16 | 0.0151% |
| 1898 | #573 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1897 | #439 | 19 | 0.0169% |
| 1896 | #593 | 13 | 0.0109% |
| 1895 | #426 | 21 | 0.0179% |
| 1894 | #632 | 11 | 0.0095% |
| 1893 | #572 | 12 | 0.0107% |
| 1892 | #481 | 17 | 0.0139% |
| 1891 | #636 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #566 | 12 | 0.0108% |
| 1889 | #629 | 10 | 0.0090% |
| 1888 | #918 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1887 | #926 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1886 | #961 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #604 | 10 | 0.0093% |
| 1884 | #664 | 9 | 0.0079% |
| 1882 | #838 | 6 | 0.0053% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Alan
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Alan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Alan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Alan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.