Alan Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Alan is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Alan?
Alan is spelled A-L-A-N. The name has 4 letters.
Alan at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Alan is commonly believed to mean “little rock” or “handsome.”
- Origin
- Alan is a name that may derive from Breton or Celtic sources and appears in medieval European contexts.
- Pronunciation
- AL-uhn · 2 syllables
Alan Popularity in 2025
Rank#191
Recorded Births1,915
- Boys usage fell 24 places to #191 and recorded 273 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Alan Mean?
Alan is commonly believed to mean “little rock” or “handsome.”
Origin: Alan is a name that may derive from Breton or Celtic sources and appears in medieval European contexts.
How Do You Pronounce Alan?
PronunciationAL-uhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Alan?
- History
- The name Alan was used in medieval records and has been present in European naming traditions for several centuries.
Alan Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2010 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,915 | #191 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,188 | #167 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,164 | #167 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,006 | #189 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,931 | #197 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,966 | #194 |
| 2019 | Boys | 2,142 | #182 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5 | #15,682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,250 | #174 |
| 2017 | Girls | 5 | #15,902 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,442 | #159 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5 | #16,215 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,630 | #155 |
| 2015 | Girls | 13 | #8,447 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,487 | #167 |
| 2014 | Girls | 9 | #10,955 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,500 | #170 |
| 2013 | Girls | 9 | #11,000 |
| 2013 | Boys | 2,607 | #153 |
| 2012 | Girls | 12 | #9,109 |
| 2012 | Boys | 2,285 | #170 |
| 2011 | Girls | 9 | #11,181 |
| 2011 | Boys | 2,343 | #164 |
| 2010 | Boys | 2,513 | #156 |
When Was Alan Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1955 · Boys
9,037 recorded births
National rank #43
1956 · Boys
8,734 recorded births
National rank #44
1954 · Boys
8,711 recorded births
National rank #43
1961 · Boys
8,617 recorded births
National rank #51
Where Alan Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| TX | #128 | 306 |
| CA | #129 | 318 |
| FL | #134 | 162 |
| AZ | #141 | 63 |
| NJ | #144 | 67 |
| NE | #150 | 18 |
| IL | #151 | 79 |
| NV | #160 | 19 |