Find out how popular the first name Alan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Alan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Alan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Alan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,159 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Alan.

The history of the first name Alan

The name Alan has its origins in the ancient Celtic language, deriving from the Brittonic word "alan," which means "little rock" or "handsome." It is believed to have emerged in the region now known as Great Britain and France during the Middle Ages.

Alan is a variation of the Old Breton name "Alan," which was widely used in Brittany, a cultural region in the northwest of France. This name gained popularity across Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly after the legendary figure of Alan the Great, a 6th-century Breton prince and warrior who fought against the invading Saxons.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Alan can be found in the 9th-century Latin work "Vita Sancti Samsonis," which recounts the life of the Welsh saint Samson. In this text, the name appears as "Alanus," referring to a prominent figure in Brittany.

Throughout history, the name Alan has been borne by numerous notable individuals. One of the most famous was Alan Rufus (c. 1040-1093), a Norman nobleman who served as the first Lord of Richmond and played a significant role in the Norman conquest of England.

Another prominent figure was Alan of Lille (c. 1116-1202), a French theologian, poet, and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of medieval scholasticism.

In the realm of literature, the name Alan is associated with the Scottish writer Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956), best known for creating the beloved characters Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin.

The world of science and technology has also been graced by individuals named Alan, such as Alan Turing (1912-1954), the English mathematician and computer scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and theoretical computer science.

In the world of cinema, the name Alan is closely tied to the renowned actor Alan Rickman (1946-2016), who captivated audiences with his performances in films such as "Die Hard," "Sense and Sensibility," and the "Harry Potter" series.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Alan throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance across various fields and cultures.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alan, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!