Boy
Celtic / Breton
2 syllables
Alan
AL-an
/ˈæl.ən/
"Rock" — a dependable Celtic classic carried by scholars, knights, and comedians alike
Alan is an anglicized form of the Breton and Welsh Alun, whose meaning is debated but possibly means rock, harmony, or handsome. The name was brought to England by Breton followers of William the Conqueror after 1066 and became established in English-speaking countries. It achieved great popularity in mid-twentieth-century America and remains a solid, unpretentious classic.
Quick Facts
Letters4
SyllablesAl · an
GenderBoy
OriginCeltic / Breton
Root WordAlun / Alen
MeaningRock, harmony, handsome
PopularityUncommon
Peak Year1957
Trend
→ Stable
Name DaySeptember 17
Nicknames
AlAllieLan
About the Name Alan
Alan means rock, harmony, or handsome depending on interpretation, from the Breton and Welsh Alun.
Alan came to England with Breton companions of William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Alan was most popular in the 1950s and remains in steady, moderate use as a familiar classic.
Alan James, Alan Michael, and Alan Thomas are solid and naturally flowing combinations.
Alans are often seen as practical, intelligent, and dependable with a warm, down-to-earth character.
Alan, Allen, and Allan are all common spellings. Alain is the French form, and Alun is the Welsh original.
Personality of Alan
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Alan
Creativity
72%
Elegance
64%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
82%
Strength
76%
Warmth
80%
Famous People Named Alan
A
Alan Turing
British mathematician and computing pioneer who broke the Enigma code in WWII
A
Alan Alda
American actor known for M*A*S*H and celebrated for his warmth and wit
A
Alan Rickman
British actor known for Harry Potter and Die Hard
Middle Names for Alan
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Alan
Alan James
Alan Michael
Alan Robert
Alan Thomas
Alan David
Alan Scott
Alan Lee
Alan Wayne
Alan Dean
Alan Ray
Names Similar to Alan
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Alan
1066
Breton followers of William the Conqueror bring Alan to England
1200
Alan becomes established as a common English name throughout medieval Britain
1957
Alan reaches peak popularity in the United States
2000
Alan maintains steady use as a classic, reliable choice
Numerology & Symbolism of Alan
1
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
2
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Virgo
6
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Forest Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🌸
Lucky Flower
Clover
Alan Around the World
How Alan is written in different languages and scripts
ألان
Arabic
アラン
Japanese
Алан
Russian
앨런
Korean
艾伦
Chinese
Άλαν
Greek
एलन
Hindi
אלן
Hebrew
Looking for Name Ideas?
Explore our name inspiration guides