My name is Alexandra, and my best friend calls me Al.
-- Anonymous User 8/1/2008
I know it's a legit nickname, but I can't help think of the Arabic word for "the". It sounds so insubstantial as a legal name. And it makes me think of that moron Al Gore.
Al Bundy - misogynist and archetypal ignorant American male extraordinare - from the 1990's television show 'Married.... with Children' bore this name. It makes me cautious to use Allen or Alban as a name, for fear of my child having this atrocious nickname inflicted upon him.
2. This name is sometimes short for Allen.