Alan is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #8467 in 2015 with 13 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2003 with 17 births ranking #6590. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 44.4%. In 2015, approximately 1 in every 137,281 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.