Allan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Allan has Scottish roots and means 'little rock' or 'harmony'. It evolved from the Gaelic 'Ailin' to its current form. The name is linked to traits of reliability and strength, with no significant biblical relevance. It has been in use since the Middle Ages and remains popular today.
The name Allan is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Allan has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Allan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 226th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 140th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 166th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 293rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 382nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 513th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 779th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6965th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4767th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 6066th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9338th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14169th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Allan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Allan"
Pronunciation
/ˈæl.ən/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Allan is derived from the Gaelic name 'Ailin', meaning 'little rock' or 'harmony'. It is often associated with the ancient Scottish clan of Allan.
Meaning
little rock, harmony
Language Evolution
Ailin, Alan, Allan
Historical Usage
Allan gained popularity in Scotland during the Middle Ages and has remained a common name in various forms since then.
Variants & Derivatives
Alan, Alain, Alen
Modern Popularity & Image
Allan is perceived as a classic and strong name, often associated with reliability and strength.
Famous People
Allan Poe, Allan Turing, Allan Holdsworth
Explore More Allan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Allan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Allan"
"Allan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 226th of 7545 | 8,921 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 140th of 6773 | 22,719 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 166th of 7552 | 32,424 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 293rd of 10718 | 11,072 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 382nd of 16616 | 8,962 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 513th of 24088 | 7,797 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 779th of 23106 | 3,745 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6965th of 9107 | 17 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4767th of 9204 | 62 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 6066th of 12526 | 74 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9338th of 19264 | 54 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14169th of 27321 | 46 |
Regional Popularity of "Allan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
13.28% 188th/1416 |
11.09% 153rd/1379 |
19.32% 457th/2366 |
15.76% 180th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
7.18% 111th/1546 |
5.59% 87th/1556 |
12.96% 305th/2353 |
8.60% 133rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
6.11% 136th/2227 |
4.40% 107th/2430 |
8.97% 256th/2853 |
6.23% 173rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
8.21% 241st/2937 |
6.35% 221st/3483 |
10.83% 381st/3518 |
7.67% 310th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
9.74% 359th/3685 |
6.95% 311th/4475 |
8.78% 456th/5194 |
5.62% 355th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.84% 634th/4582 |
8.56% 442nd/5164 |
7.90% 578th/7313 |
5.83% 435th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
27.81% 1108th/3984 |
14.73% 661st/4487 |
10.70% 730th/6822 |
12.27% 770th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Allan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Allan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Allan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.