Alan is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #9133 in 2012 with 12 recorded births. This places Alan in the top 47% of ranked US girls' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 2003 with 17 births ranking #6590. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 33.3%. In 2012, approximately 1 in every 146,729 girls born was named Alan. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Alan is an old Celtic name with a long European history, but its exact meaning is uncertain. It is often linked with ideas such as rock, harmony, or a pleasant appearance, though none of these explanations is fully settled.
The name was carried into England by the Bretons after the Norman Conquest and remained in steady use for centuries. Its simple form has helped it travel well across many languages.