The story behind Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of Bran, Welsh Alawn, Alun. As an early Irish name, perhaps connected with ail (“noble”). Compare French Alain.
Other language forms and explanations (3)
English entry
A male given name from Hebrew, variant of Elon.
Portuguese entry
Unadapted borrowing from English Alan.
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Alan.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈæl.ən/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈa.lɐ̃/
- Portuguese; Brazil: /aˈlã/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈa.lɐn/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʔalan/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈʔaː.lɐn̪]
Popularity
Alan ranked #191 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Alan
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aäron
Ultimately from Biblical Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (aharōn).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abdon
a male given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abdon Borrowed from Hebrew עבדון.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Adán
Borrowed from Hebrew אָדָם (adam, “earth, man, soil, light brown”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ailean
a male given name from the Celtic languages, equivalent to English Alan
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Alan
Ann
From Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna the Prophetess, from Koine…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Dan
From Hebrew דָּן (Dan). Dimunitve of Danjell (“Daniel”), Daniel (“id”) and Daniell (“id”). From Latin Daniēl (from Ancient Greek Δᾱνῑήλ (Dānīḗl), from Hebrew דָּנִיֵּאל).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Eve
From Middle English Eve, Eue, from Old English Ēua, Ēfe, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Alan
Blue
From the German surname, Americanized from Blau or its French cognate bleu.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Boaz
From Biblical Hebrew בֹּעַז (Bṓʿaz).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Dina
Equivalent of the biblical name Dinah in several European languages, ultimately from Hebrew דִּינָה. Borrowed clipping of longer names in many languages, such as Italian Dina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection