Alan Boy

Popularity: #162 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationAL-uhn / /ˈæl.ən/

Old Breton; Irish; Hebrew

Meaning

Old Breton: 'handsome'; Irish: 'little rock'; Hebrew: 'God has favored'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Alan has roots in Old Breton, where it was associated with nobility and beauty. It became popular in Ireland and was introduced to English-speaking countries through the Normans. Over the centuries, Alan has been borne by various notable figures, contributing to its enduring popularity.

Trend Summary

Alan has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., peaking in the mid-20th century.

Similar Names

AldenAlvinAlecArlenAdrianAlistairAlaric

Variants

  • Al
  • Allan
  • Alen

International Variants

  • Alain (French)
  • Alano (Italian)
  • Alen (Slavic)

Famous people named Alan

Alan Turing was a mathematician and logician known for his contributions to computer science and cryptography during World War II.

Alan Rickman was an English actor famous for his roles in films such as 'Die Hard' and 'Harry Potter'.

Alan Shearer is a retired English footballer who is regarded as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history.

Alan Alda is an American actor and director best known for his role in the television series 'M*A*S*H'.

Fictional characters named Alan

Alan Grant is a character in the 'Jurassic Park' franchise, portrayed as a paleontologist.

Alan Harper is a character from the television show 'Two and a Half Men', known for his comedic misadventures.

Sibling Suggestions

EthanRyanDavidJamesLucasNathan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Alan was first seen in the United States in 1882. Alan has ranked as high as #83 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Alan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Alan (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 406
20%
CA 330
16%
FL 214
10%
NY 135
7%
IL 94
5%
GA 58
3%
WA 58
3%
NC 55
3%
PA 51
2%
TN 51
2%
AZ 51
2%
VA 41
2%
OH 40
2%
IN 38
2%
MA 33
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
18826
18849
188510
18865
18875
18886
188910
189012
18919
189217
189312
189411
189521
189613
189719
189814
189916
190027
190120
190227
190325
190429
190523
190628
190738
190831
190945
191059
191155
1912102
1913158
1914184
1915238
1916251
1917310
1918333
1919330
1920433
1921375
1922479
1923588
1924625
1925804
1926836
1927808
1928964
19291,101
19301,301
19311,423
19321,339
19331,345
19341,369
19351,425
19361,755
19371,846
19382,241
19392,330
19402,377
19412,624
19423,134
19433,855
19444,277
19455,073
19466,490
19477,823
19487,394
19497,255
19507,738
19518,408
19528,310
19538,454
19548,712
19559,033
19568,735
19578,209
19588,226
19598,152
19608,357
19618,612
19627,720
19636,931
19646,811
19655,613
19664,943
19674,573
19683,976
19693,854
19703,553
19713,168
19722,580
19732,269
19742,231
19752,249
19762,185
19772,134
19782,122
19792,323
19802,671
19812,588
19822,687
19832,770
19842,704
19852,683
19862,648
19872,586
19882,754
19892,733
19902,640
19912,545
19922,607
19932,564
19942,434
19952,293
19962,447
19972,177
19982,138
19992,249
20002,415
20012,644
20022,625
20033,098
20043,062
20053,205
20063,475
20073,249
20083,027
20092,847
20102,513
20112,342
20122,285
20132,607
20142,499
20152,487
20162,630
20172,442
20182,250
20192,141
20201,966
20211,931
20222,005
20232,164
20242,183