Alan

Last seen for girls in 2018 at #15,682 · #191 for boys in 2025, 1,915 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1951 · 8,408 births
Debut · boys
6 births
In top 100 · boys
34 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
363,313
since 1882

Alan over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201981peak #40, 1951boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#1911,915
2024—#1672,188
2023—#1672,164
2022—#1892,006
2021—#1971,931
2020—#1941,966
2019—#1822,142
2018#15,6825#1742,250
2017#15,9025#1592,442
2016#16,2155#1552,630
2015#8,44713#1672,487
2014#10,9559#1702,500
2013#11,0009#1532,607
2012#9,10912#1702,285
2011#11,1819#1642,343
2010—#1562,513
2009#13,7047#1422,847
2008—#1353,027
2007#12,6768#1303,249
2006#15,1526#1223,475
2005#8,33013#1283,205
2004#6,76817#1323,062
2003#6,57617#1313,098
2002#12,1877#1502,625
2001#12,0567#1482,644
2000#8,02712#1612,415
1999#10,3458#1642,249
1998#14,1225#1612,138
1997#10,8367#1582,177
1996#8,8129#1432,447
1995#8,7669#1532,293
1994#8,8049#1442,435
1993#7,49811#1322,564
1992#6,00815#1292,606
1991#5,65916#1282,545
1990#5,83515#1262,640
1989#5,54515#1202,733
1988#5,06516#1102,754
1987#3,52425#1122,586
1986#3,89021#1072,648
1985#4,12619#1092,684
1984#3,99019#1052,702
1983#5,14813#1022,771
1982#4,71615#1072,687
1981#6,8049#1122,589
1980#3,85320#1122,671
1979#5,75111#1162,322
1978#4,93113#1222,122
1977#4,65214#1262,134
1976#3,54019#1152,186
1975#4,14115#1152,248
1974#4,72012#1182,231
1973#4,15514#1152,269
1972#5,4809#1102,580
1971#3,94315#993,168
1970#2,93823#913,553
1969#3,31817#763,852
1968#2,87420#743,976
1967#3,48414#614,572
1966#4,19810#574,943
1965#3,05017#595,612
1964#2,53024#536,810
1963#2,61922#566,935
1962#2,26428#537,719
1961#2,60822#518,617
1960#2,64921#508,356
1959#2,76018#508,151
1958#3,23214#498,226
1957#2,72718#488,208
1956#3,49312#448,734
1955#2,97115#439,037
1954#3,01914#438,711
1953#3,48011#438,454
1952#3,20112#428,310
1951#2,69415#408,408
1950#2,90913#417,737
1949#2,72614#457,255
1948#3,35010#467,394
1947#2,27919#457,823
1946#3,9947#496,490
1945#3,1329#525,073
1944#3,3788#554,277
1943#4,6915#673,855
1942#3,7387#813,134
1941#4,4205#842,624
1940#3,8636#882,377
1939#3,7826#852,330
1938—#912,241
1937—#1031,846
1936—#1081,755
1935—#1221,425
1934—#1241,369
1933#3,4067#1221,345
1932#3,2748#1271,339
1931#4,3315#1201,423
1930#3,0559#1361,301
1929#3,3948#1461,101
1928#3,7437#157964
1927#3,8757#178808
1926#4,8515#174836
1925—#179804
1924—#217625
1923—#221588
1922—#256479
1921#5,0995#289375
1920—#263433
1919—#299330
1918—#302333
1917—#299310
1916—#338251
1915—#346238
1914—#344184
1913—#321158
1912—#381102
1911—#37955
1910—#32159
1909—#34845
1908—#42931
1907—#35938
1906—#41128
1905—#46323
1904—#37929
1903—#39325
1902—#38027
1901—#42220
1900—#43027
1899—#48116
1898—#57314
1897—#43819
1896—#59213
1895—#42621
1894—#63111
1893—#57212
1892—#48017
1891—#6359
1890—#56612
1889—#62810
1888—#9176
1887—#9215
1886—#9595
1885—#60410
1884—#6639
1883——
1882—#8376
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1882

The first year at least five boys were named Alan! It came in at #837, and was given to 6 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1883, when fewer than 5 boys a year got the name.

Where Alan is popular in 1981

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #105 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 502 boysAKMaine: #79 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 391 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Alan, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #100 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 683 boysNHWashington: #100 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 548 boysWAIdaho: #115 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 584 boysIDMontana: #126 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 727 boysMTNorth Dakota: #146 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 980 boysNDMinnesota: #93 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 644 boysMNIllinois: #102 for boys · 142 births · 1 in 596 boysILWisconsin: #91 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 577 boysWIMichigan: #89 for boys · 130 births · 1 in 505 boysMINew York: #102 for boys · 180 births · 1 in 631 boysNYMassachusetts: #81 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 526 boysMARhode Island: #77 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 476 boysRIOregon: #96 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 502 boysORNevada: #123 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 709 boysNVWyoming: #94 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 447 boysWYSouth Dakota: #79 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 362 boysSDIowa: #123 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 808 boysIAIndiana: #102 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 608 boysINOhio: #98 for boys · 132 births · 1 in 611 boysOHPennsylvania: #98 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 673 boysPANew Jersey: #91 for boys · 70 births · 1 in 607 boysNJConnecticut: #76 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 457 boysCTCalifornia: #141 for boys · 290 births · 1 in 693 boysCAUtah: #88 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 464 boysUTColorado: #137 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 883 boysCONebraska: #115 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 726 boysNEMissouri: #137 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 964 boysMOKentucky: #121 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 819 boysKYWest Virginia: #119 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 808 boysWVVirginia: #141 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 934 boysVAMaryland: #111 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 711 boysMDDelaware: #76 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 422 boysDEArizona: #180 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 966 boysAZNew Mexico: #228 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,239 boysNMKansas: #114 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 626 boysKSArkansas: #126 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 695 boysARTennessee: #123 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 736 boysTNNorth Carolina: #88 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 485 boysNCSouth Carolina: #152 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 844 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #87 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 418 boysDCOklahoma: #116 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 604 boysOKLouisiana: #155 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 733 boysLAMississippi: #132 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 713 boysMSAlabama: #113 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 598 boysALGeorgia: #141 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 805 boysGAHawaii: #64 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 284 boysHITexas: #160 for boys · 174 births · 1 in 792 boysTXFlorida: #110 for boys · 101 births · 1 in 623 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Hawaii#64 · 1 in 284
  2. Delaware#76 · 1 in 422
  3. Connecticut#76 · 1 in 457
  4. Rhode Island#77 · 1 in 476
  5. South Dakota#79 · 1 in 362

Best ever in a state: #14 in Hawaii, 1946.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#64241 in 284
Connecticut#76391 in 457
Delaware#7691 in 422
Rhode Island#77121 in 476
Maine#79181 in 391
South Dakota#79151 in 362
Massachusetts#81681 in 526
District of Columbia#87191 in 418
North Carolina#88781 in 485
Utah#88411 in 464
Michigan#891301 in 505
New Jersey#91701 in 607
Wisconsin#91601 in 577
Minnesota#93511 in 644
Wyoming#9491 in 447
Oregon#96401 in 502
Ohio#981321 in 611
Pennsylvania#981151 in 673
New Hampshire#10091 in 683
Washington#100581 in 548
Illinois#1021421 in 596
Indiana#102661 in 608
New York#1021801 in 631
Alaska#10581 in 502
Florida#1101011 in 623
Maryland#111341 in 711
Alabama#113441 in 598
Kansas#114291 in 626
Idaho#115141 in 584
Nebraska#115171 in 726
Oklahoma#116391 in 604
West Virginia#119161 in 808
Kentucky#121331 in 819
Iowa#123271 in 808
Nevada#12381 in 709
Tennessee#123441 in 736
Arkansas#126221 in 695
Montana#12681 in 727
Mississippi#132271 in 713
Colorado#137271 in 883
Missouri#137381 in 964
California#1412901 in 693
Georgia#141501 in 805
Virginia#141371 in 934
North Dakota#14661 in 980
South Carolina#152251 in 844
Louisiana#155501 in 733
Texas#1601741 in 792
Arizona#180241 in 966
New Mexico#22891 in 1,239
Vermont———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Alan
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 24 spots since 2024 (#167 → #191)
  • 3 spots since 2020 (#194 → #191)
  • 24 spots since 2015 (#167 → #191)
  • Biggest jump: 289 spots in 1889 (#917 → #628)
  • Biggest drop: 355 spots in 1886 (#604 → #959)
Rise & fade · boys
69 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1882
  • Peaked 1951 at #40 (8,408 births)
  • Births halved by 1968, 17 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 34 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 34 yrs · run 1938–1971
  • Top 1,000: 143 yrs · run 1884–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 224
  • Highest: 1 in 224 boys born in 1951 were named Alan (0.45%)
  • Latest: 1 in 892 boys born in 2025 (0.11%)
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 23.1% of all boys named Alan (83,976) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s51#604 (1885)#790
1890s144#426 (1895)#539
1900s293#348 (1909)#401
1910s2,020#299 (1919)#333
1920s7,013#146 (1929)#208
1930s16,374#85 (1939)#114
1940s50,302#45 (1947)#61
1950s83,976#40 (1951)#44
1960s61,392#50 (1960)#59
1970s24,813#91 (1970)#113
1980s26,825#102 (1983)#110
1990s24,094#126 (1990)#144
2000s29,647#122 (2006)#138
2010s24,199#153 (2013)#165
2020s12,170#167 (2024)#184

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Alan in 1981

girls
#6,804
9 births · 1 in 185,340 girls
boys
#112
2,589 births · 1 in 692 boys

Top girls' names in 1981

  1. #1Jennifer57,046
  2. #2Jessica42,531
  3. #3Amanda34,372
  4. #4Sarah28,175
  5. #5Melissa28,005
  6. #6Amy20,345
  7. #7Nicole20,310
  8. #8Stephanie20,212
  9. #9Elizabeth20,168
  10. #10Heather17,946
  11. #6,804Alan9

Top boys' names in 1981

  1. #1Michael68,750
  2. #2Christopher50,221
  3. #3Matthew43,330
  4. #4Jason41,927
  5. #5David40,629
  6. #6Joshua39,024
  7. #7James38,283
  8. #8John34,868
  9. #9Robert34,395
  10. #10Daniel30,985
  11. #112Alan2,589
More about 1981

girls

1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 185,340 of them was named Alan, which outranked 44.2% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Alan
  1. #6,323Yevette10
  2. #6,323Yolunda10
  3. #6,323Zulay10
  4. #6,804Alan9
  5. #6,804Abeni9
  6. #6,804Adeola9
  7. #6,804Aidan9
  8. #7,409Aaren8
  9. #7,409Aarin8
  10. #7,409Abigael8

Tied with 604 names at #6,804; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,850Tashina#4,743 → #893
  2. ↑ 2,742Krystle#3,215 → #473
  3. ↑ 1,800Tierra#2,342 → #542
  4. ↑ 1,398Martine#2,189 → #791
  5. ↑ 999Nereida#1,981 → #982
Fallers
  1. ↓ 764Kylene#990 → #1,754
  2. ↓ 607Renada#708 → #1,315
  3. ↓ 560Ashanti#822 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 399Renata#336 → #735
  5. ↓ 395Tracee#959 → #1,354

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 692 of them was named Alan, which outranked 98.5% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Alan
  1. #109Mario2,713
  2. #110Bobby2,658
  3. #111Tony2,650
  4. #112Alan2,589
  5. #113Johnny2,556
  6. #114Troy2,512
  7. #115Adrian2,467
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,321Marchello#2,162 → #841
  2. ↑ 1,104Skylar#2,058 → #954
  3. ↑ 816Kellen#1,432 → #616
  4. ↑ 499Marcello#1,291 → #792
  5. ↑ 456Tyrel#1,089 → #633
Fallers
  1. ↓ 306Kenyatta#871 → #1,177
  2. ↓ 284Seneca#718 → #1,002
  3. ↓ 247Kimberly#989 → #1,236
  4. ↓ 216Chadd#927 → #1,143
  5. ↓ 214Levar#911 → #1,125

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1981 →