Alan
A boys’ name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning fair or handsome.
How Alan has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #167 |
| 2016 | #155 |
| 2017 | #159 |
| 2018 | #174 |
| 2019 | #182 |
| 2020 | #194 |
| 2021 | #197 |
| 2022 | #189 |
| 2023 | #168 |
| 2024 | #167 |
| 2025 | #191 |
Alan by the numbers
In 2025, 72 babies in England and Wales were named Alan. In the US, 2,441 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 9,028 babies in 1955, making it a 1950s name.
At its height, in 1955, about 1 in 230 American boys born that year was called Alan.
Names that come from Alan
Forms of Alan in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Alan. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Adanman; variant of Adam745 in the US (2017)
- Allanfair, handsome; variant of Alan301 in the US (2017)
- Ayangift or blessing255 in England and Wales (2025)
- Azlanlion125 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aylanfair or handsome; a form of Alan15 in England and Wales (2025)
- Alaanobility or elevation28 in England and Wales (2025)
Sounds like Alan
Names that are said the same way as Alan, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Allenfair; bright; handsome787 in the US (2017)
- Alainbright or fair; a form of Alan55 in the US (2017)
- Alenbright; a form of Alan38 in the US (2017)
- Alonoak tree24 in the US (2017)
- Alinfair; bright; a form of Alan5 in England and Wales (2025)
- Allynnoble friend; a form of Alden or Allen13 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean beauty
Like Alan, each of these has beauty in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Kevinhandsome at birth3,813 in the US (2017)
- Finleyfair-haired warrior1,733 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mackenzieson of the fair one; surname used as given name2,976 in the US (2017)
- Jadejade stone; symbol of virtue and beauty2,765 in the US (2017)
- Beauhandsome487 in England and Wales (2025)
- Finnfair or white706 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Alan
Nobody has voted for Alan yet
Vote for Alan and put it up against all the other baby names
Vote for Alan