Allan

Allan - A very unique male name

Allan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #310. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Allan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Allan? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Allan. The baby boy name Allan was given to 162 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1039 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 9,051 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Allan peaked in popularity 86 years ago in 1940 on position 115.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Allan, 1-5?

Allan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Allan is currently topping the baby name charts in Florida at position #543 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,271.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Allan is where you live.

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Allan origin and meaning

Breton / Celtic — exact derivation disputed

Uncertain — Allan is a spelling variant of Alan; Alan's own origin is disputed, with proposed roots including a Breton word for a deer and a Celtic word for rock or harmony

Allan is one of the long-standing spellings of Alan, a name the Normans brought from Brittany to Britain, where it became established in Scotland and England. This spelling peaked in the US in 1947 and has been falling since.

Origin uncertain

Allan is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Allan, pop culture references for the name Allan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Allan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Allan, sorted by popularity.

Alan / Allen / Alain / Alen / Alma / Allyn / Aylan / Alon / Alim / Aleem /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Allan

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Allan a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Allan?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AL-un · /ˈælən/

Around the world

• Alain (French) — The French form of Alan.

Spellings and nicknames

• Alan — The main form of the name; a separate, more common entry.
• Allen — The other major spelling; also a surname.
• Alen — A rarer simplified spelling.

Nicknames: Al

Famous bearers

• Allan Pinkerton — Scottish-American detective who founded the Pinkerton detective agency (1819–1884) Historical

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Allan offers a mid-century, no-nonsense feel with a spelling that sets it slightly apart from the more common Alan and Allen. It suits parents after a familiar name that is now uncommon.

Worth knowing

• Three spellings — Allan, Alan and Allen — are in constant use, so the spelling will need correcting.
• Falling steadily since its 1947 peak, it can read as dated.