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
- Peak · boys
- 1951 · 8,408 births
- Debut · boys
- 6 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 34 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 363,313since 1882
Alan over time
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #191 | 1,915 | |
| 2024 | — | #167 | 2,188 | |
| 2023 | — | #167 | 2,164 | |
| 2022 | — | #189 | 2,006 | |
| 2021 | — | #197 | 1,931 | |
| 2020 | — | #194 | 1,966 | |
| 2019 | — | #182 | 2,142 | |
| 2018 | #15,682 | 5 | #174 | 2,250 |
| 2017 | #15,902 | 5 | #159 | 2,442 |
| 2016 | #16,215 | 5 | #155 | 2,630 |
| 2015 | #8,447 | 13 | #167 | 2,487 |
| 2014 | #10,955 | 9 | #170 | 2,500 |
| 2013 | #11,000 | 9 | #153 | 2,607 |
| 2012 | #9,109 | 12 | #170 | 2,285 |
| 2011 | #11,181 | 9 | #164 | 2,343 |
| 2010 | — | #156 | 2,513 | |
| 2009 | #13,704 | 7 | #142 | 2,847 |
| 2008 | — | #135 | 3,027 | |
| 2007 | #12,676 | 8 | #130 | 3,249 |
| 2006 | #15,152 | 6 | #122 | 3,475 |
| 2005 | #8,330 | 13 | #128 | 3,205 |
| 2004 | #6,768 | 17 | #132 | 3,062 |
| 2003 | #6,576 | 17 | #131 | 3,098 |
| 2002 | #12,187 | 7 | #150 | 2,625 |
| 2001 | #12,056 | 7 | #148 | 2,644 |
| 2000 | #8,027 | 12 | #161 | 2,415 |
| 1999 | #10,345 | 8 | #164 | 2,249 |
| 1998 | #14,122 | 5 | #161 | 2,138 |
| 1997 | #10,836 | 7 | #158 | 2,177 |
| 1996 | #8,812 | 9 | #143 | 2,447 |
| 1995 | #8,766 | 9 | #153 | 2,293 |
| 1994 | #8,804 | 9 | #144 | 2,435 |
| 1993 | #7,498 | 11 | #132 | 2,564 |
| 1992 | #6,008 | 15 | #129 | 2,606 |
| 1991 | #5,659 | 16 | #128 | 2,545 |
| 1990 | #5,835 | 15 | #126 | 2,640 |
| 1989 | #5,545 | 15 | #120 | 2,733 |
| 1988 | #5,065 | 16 | #110 | 2,754 |
| 1987 | #3,524 | 25 | #112 | 2,586 |
| 1986 | #3,890 | 21 | #107 | 2,648 |
| 1985 | #4,126 | 19 | #109 | 2,684 |
| 1984 | #3,990 | 19 | #105 | 2,702 |
| 1983 | #5,148 | 13 | #102 | 2,771 |
| 1982 | #4,716 | 15 | #107 | 2,687 |
| 1981 | #6,804 | 9 | #112 | 2,589 |
| 1980 | #3,853 | 20 | #112 | 2,671 |
| 1979 | #5,751 | 11 | #116 | 2,322 |
| 1978 | #4,931 | 13 | #122 | 2,122 |
| 1977 | #4,652 | 14 | #126 | 2,134 |
| 1976 | #3,540 | 19 | #115 | 2,186 |
| 1975 | #4,141 | 15 | #115 | 2,248 |
| 1974 | #4,720 | 12 | #118 | 2,231 |
| 1973 | #4,155 | 14 | #115 | 2,269 |
| 1972 | #5,480 | 9 | #110 | 2,580 |
| 1971 | #3,943 | 15 | #99 | 3,168 |
| 1970 | #2,938 | 23 | #91 | 3,553 |
| 1969 | #3,318 | 17 | #76 | 3,852 |
| 1968 | #2,874 | 20 | #74 | 3,976 |
| 1967 | #3,484 | 14 | #61 | 4,572 |
| 1966 | #4,198 | 10 | #57 | 4,943 |
| 1965 | #3,050 | 17 | #59 | 5,612 |
| 1964 | #2,530 | 24 | #53 | 6,810 |
| 1963 | #2,619 | 22 | #56 | 6,935 |
| 1962 | #2,264 | 28 | #53 | 7,719 |
| 1961 | #2,608 | 22 | #51 | 8,617 |
| 1960 | #2,649 | 21 | #50 | 8,356 |
| 1959 | #2,760 | 18 | #50 | 8,151 |
| 1958 | #3,232 | 14 | #49 | 8,226 |
| 1957 | #2,727 | 18 | #48 | 8,208 |
| 1956 | #3,493 | 12 | #44 | 8,734 |
| 1955 | #2,971 | 15 | #43 | 9,037 |
| 1954 | #3,019 | 14 | #43 | 8,711 |
| 1953 | #3,480 | 11 | #43 | 8,454 |
| 1952 | #3,201 | 12 | #42 | 8,310 |
| 1951 | #2,694 | 15 | #40 | 8,408 |
| 1950 | #2,909 | 13 | #41 | 7,737 |
| 1949 | #2,726 | 14 | #45 | 7,255 |
| 1948 | #3,350 | 10 | #46 | 7,394 |
| 1947 | #2,279 | 19 | #45 | 7,823 |
| 1946 | #3,994 | 7 | #49 | 6,490 |
| 1945 | #3,132 | 9 | #52 | 5,073 |
| 1944 | #3,378 | 8 | #55 | 4,277 |
| 1943 | #4,691 | 5 | #67 | 3,855 |
| 1942 | #3,738 | 7 | #81 | 3,134 |
| 1941 | #4,420 | 5 | #84 | 2,624 |
| 1940 | #3,863 | 6 | #88 | 2,377 |
| 1939 | #3,782 | 6 | #85 | 2,330 |
| 1938 | — | #91 | 2,241 | |
| 1937 | — | #103 | 1,846 | |
| 1936 | — | #108 | 1,755 | |
| 1935 | — | #122 | 1,425 | |
| 1934 | — | #124 | 1,369 | |
| 1933 | #3,406 | 7 | #122 | 1,345 |
| 1932 | #3,274 | 8 | #127 | 1,339 |
| 1931 | #4,331 | 5 | #120 | 1,423 |
| 1930 | #3,055 | 9 | #136 | 1,301 |
| 1929 | #3,394 | 8 | #146 | 1,101 |
| 1928 | #3,743 | 7 | #157 | 964 |
| 1927 | #3,875 | 7 | #178 | 808 |
| 1926 | #4,851 | 5 | #174 | 836 |
| 1925 | — | #179 | 804 | |
| 1924 | — | #217 | 625 | |
| 1923 | — | #221 | 588 | |
| 1922 | — | #256 | 479 | |
| 1921 | #5,099 | 5 | #289 | 375 |
| 1920 | — | #263 | 433 | |
| 1919 | — | #299 | 330 | |
| 1918 | — | #302 | 333 | |
| 1917 | — | #299 | 310 | |
| 1916 | — | #338 | 251 | |
| 1915 | — | #346 | 238 | |
| 1914 | — | #344 | 184 | |
| 1913 | — | #321 | 158 | |
| 1912 | — | #381 | 102 | |
| 1911 | — | #379 | 55 | |
| 1910 | — | #321 | 59 | |
| 1909 | — | #348 | 45 | |
| 1908 | — | #429 | 31 | |
| 1907 | — | #359 | 38 | |
| 1906 | — | #411 | 28 | |
| 1905 | — | #463 | 23 | |
| 1904 | — | #379 | 29 | |
| 1903 | — | #393 | 25 | |
| 1902 | — | #380 | 27 | |
| 1901 | — | #422 | 20 | |
| 1900 | — | #430 | 27 | |
| 1899 | — | #481 | 16 | |
| 1898 | — | #573 | 14 | |
| 1897 | — | #438 | 19 | |
| 1896 | — | #592 | 13 | |
| 1895 | — | #426 | 21 | |
| 1894 | — | #631 | 11 | |
| 1893 | — | #572 | 12 | |
| 1892 | — | #480 | 17 | |
| 1891 | — | #635 | 9 | |
| 1890 | — | #566 | 12 | |
| 1889 | — | #628 | 10 | |
| 1888 | — | #917 | 6 | |
| 1887 | — | #921 | 5 | |
| 1886 | — | #959 | 5 | |
| 1885 | — | #604 | 10 | |
| 1884 | — | #663 | 9 | |
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | #837 | 6 | |
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
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 1986
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Rhode Island#79 · 1 in 460
- Massachusetts#83 · 1 in 577
- Idaho#85 · 1 in 378
- Arizona#88 · 1 in 425
- Michigan#88 · 1 in 499
Best ever in a state: #14 in Hawaii, 1946.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #79 | 13 | 1 in 460 |
| Massachusetts | #83 | 68 | 1 in 577 |
| Idaho | #85 | 18 | 1 in 378 |
| Arizona | #88 | 64 | 1 in 425 |
| Michigan | #88 | 128 | 1 in 499 |
| Connecticut | #92 | 37 | 1 in 549 |
| Florida | #93 | 135 | 1 in 566 |
| Minnesota | #95 | 53 | 1 in 580 |
| Nebraska | #95 | 21 | 1 in 530 |
| Utah | #95 | 36 | 1 in 459 |
| Ohio | #98 | 118 | 1 in 640 |
| New York | #99 | 184 | 1 in 664 |
| Hawaii | #102 | 14 | 1 in 464 |
| North Carolina | #104 | 67 | 1 in 610 |
| Wisconsin | #104 | 47 | 1 in 706 |
| Indiana | #105 | 57 | 1 in 648 |
| Nevada | #105 | 12 | 1 in 532 |
| Pennsylvania | #105 | 101 | 1 in 764 |
| Delaware | #107 | 6 | 1 in 662 |
| Maine | #107 | 11 | 1 in 659 |
| New Jersey | #107 | 62 | 1 in 767 |
| Oklahoma | #108 | 39 | 1 in 577 |
| Maryland | #109 | 41 | 1 in 690 |
| Virginia | #111 | 51 | 1 in 741 |
| Illinois | #112 | 109 | 1 in 732 |
| North Dakota | #112 | 9 | 1 in 573 |
| South Dakota | #112 | 8 | 1 in 597 |
| Oregon | #113 | 28 | 1 in 642 |
| Colorado | #115 | 40 | 1 in 629 |
| Washington | #115 | 47 | 1 in 666 |
| Kentucky | #116 | 32 | 1 in 748 |
| New Hampshire | #116 | 9 | 1 in 775 |
| Alaska | #117 | 8 | 1 in 595 |
| Iowa | #117 | 25 | 1 in 725 |
| California | #118 | 395 | 1 in 578 |
| Georgia | #119 | 65 | 1 in 680 |
| Montana | #121 | 9 | 1 in 580 |
| Kansas | #123 | 27 | 1 in 639 |
| Missouri | #123 | 44 | 1 in 818 |
| West Virginia | #126 | 14 | 1 in 794 |
| South Carolina | #128 | 30 | 1 in 703 |
| Alabama | #133 | 36 | 1 in 702 |
| Mississippi | #133 | 25 | 1 in 683 |
| Tennessee | #135 | 38 | 1 in 824 |
| New Mexico | #154 | 15 | 1 in 757 |
| Arkansas | #155 | 16 | 1 in 923 |
| Texas | #162 | 184 | 1 in 795 |
| Louisiana | #168 | 40 | 1 in 851 |
| District of Columbia | #222 | 6 | 1 in 1,250 |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
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
- 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)
- Debuted 1882
- Peaked 1951 at #40 (8,408 births)
- Births halved by 1968, 17 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 34 yrs · run 1938–1971
- Top 1,000: 143 yrs · run 1884–2025
- Highest: 1 in 224 boys born in 1951 were named Alan (0.45%)
- Latest: 1 in 892 boys born in 2025 (0.11%)
- 23.1% of all boys named Alan (83,976) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 51 | #604 (1885) | #790 |
| 1890s | 144 | #426 (1895) | #539 |
| 1900s | 293 | #348 (1909) | #401 |
| 1910s | 2,020 | #299 (1919) | #333 |
| 1920s | 7,013 | #146 (1929) | #208 |
| 1930s | 16,374 | #85 (1939) | #114 |
| 1940s | 50,302 | #45 (1947) | #61 |
| 1950s | 83,976 | #40 (1951) | #44 |
| 1960s | 61,392 | #50 (1960) | #59 |
| 1970s | 24,813 | #91 (1970) | #113 |
| 1980s | 26,825 | #102 (1983) | #110 |
| 1990s | 24,094 | #126 (1990) | #144 |
| 2000s | 29,647 | #122 (2006) | #138 |
| 2010s | 24,199 | #153 (2013) | #165 |
| 2020s | 12,170 | #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 1986
Top girls' names in 1986
Top boys' names in 1986
More about 1986
girls
1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 81,693 of them was named Alan, which outranked 69.7% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #3,757Vy22
- #3,757Willow22
- #3,757Yen22
- #3,890Alan21
- #3,890Adriann21
- #3,890Alanda21
- #3,890Allysha21
- #4,028Aasha20
- #4,028Abril20
- #4,028Adena20
Tied with 137 names at #3,890; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 695 of them was named Alan, which outranked 98.6% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.