Gender Masculine
Pronounced Pron. AL-ən(English) A-lahn(Breton) A-LAHN(French)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

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 possibly means either "little rock" or "handsome" in Breton. Alternatively, it may derive from the tribal name of the Alans, an Iranian people who migrated into Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries.

This was the name of several dukes of Brittany, and Breton settlers introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. Famous modern bearers include Alan Shepard (1923-1998), the first American in space and the fifth man to walk on the moon, and Alan Turing (1912-1954), a British mathematician and computer scientist.

Related Names

VariantsAllan, Allen, Allyn(English) Allan(Scottish) Ailean(Scottish Gaelic) Alain(French)
DiminutiveAl(English)
Feminine FormsAlaina, Alana, Alanna, Alannah, Alayna, Allyn, Alanis, Alannis, Allana, Allannah, Lana(English) Alana(Breton)
Other Languages & CulturesAlen(Armenian) Alen(Croatian) Allan(Danish) Allan(Estonian) Alen(Slovene) Allan(Swedish) Alun(Welsh)
Surname DescendantsAlan, Allan, Allen, Allison(English) Alan, Allan, Allen(Scottish)
User SubmissionsAlán, Alan

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   natural   wholesome   strong   refined   simple   serious  

Name Days

Czechia: August 14
Poland: October 14
Slovakia: March 8

Categories

Entry updated June 9, 2023