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The short answer
Alan is a masculine name used in English and Scottish. Behind the Name describes it this way: "The meaning of this name is not known for certain. It was used in Brittany at least as early as the 6th century, and it could be of Brythonic origin meaning ‘little rock’." It ranked #191 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, the meaning of this name is not known for certain. It was used in Brittany at least as early as the 6th century, and it could be of Brythonic origin meaning ‘little rock’. The entry lists its usage as English, Scottish, Breton, French and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Alan ranked #191 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #191 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Alan in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alan mean?
Alan means "little rock", according to Behind the Name.
Is Alan a popular name?
Alan ranked #191 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Alan a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Alan appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Alan (1) — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
