Name; Alan
Pronounciation; AELahN (English)
Gender; Male
Origin; Celtic
Meaning; little rock; harmony, peace (I find these meanings surprising, it makes me like this name even though I didn't like it much before!)
Have I or will I use this name? Do I plan to? My initial answer to this was going to be no because I know of or know someone called Alan and he's not the greatest person ever, but now that I know the names meaning I see it in a new light. So I could possibly use this name in the future, but have no plans to as of yet.
Other Information; Alan is used chiefly in the Breton, English, German, and Scottish languages.
Alanus (Latinized) is an old form of Alan. The name is of debated origin; it could be from 'ailin' (little rock), which is from 'al' (rock), or else it could be from 'alun' (harmony, peace). The French form Alain could also be from the tribe of the Alans, an Iranian people who migrated into Europe around the 4th and 5th centuries. The name was borne by a 5th-century saint in Brittany, and was consequently popular there. It was later brought to England by Normans such as Alan, Earl of Brittany, a Breton follower of William the Conqueror. The name became fairly popular in medieval times, but it later saw a decline in use until a revival along with other medieval names in the 19th century. Forms such as Allan and Allen usually represent transferred use of the surnames. In literature, it is borne by one of Robin Hood's Merry Men, Alan-a-Dale, as well as Alan Breck in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Kidnapped (1886). The name Alana (English) and the name Alanda (English) are the female forms of Alan.
Similar Names; The name Alan is used to a great extent; it has 38 variants that are used in both English and other languages. Variants used in English include Ailan, Alaen, Alain (used in French too), Aland, Alando, Alane, Alani, Alann (used in Scottish too), Alanson, Alen (used in Scottish too), Alin, Allaen, Allain (used in French too), Allayne, Allen (used in Scottish too), Alley, Alleyn (used in Scottish too), Alleyne, Allon (used in Scottish too), Alon, Alun (used in Welsh too), Alune, Alyne, Alynn, and Arana. Other English forms include the contraction Al, the pet form Allie, and the variant spellings Allan (used in German, and Scottish too), Allin (used in Scottish too), Allyn (used in Scottish too), and Alyn (used in Scottish too).
Foreign variants of Alan include Ailean (Gaelic and Scottish), Ailin (Irish), Ailín (Irish), Alano (Italian and Spanish), Alante (Spanish), Alao (Portuguese), and Alán (Celtic).
Baby names that sound like Alan include Allen (English and Scottish), Alun (English and Welsh), Alyn (English and Scottish), Aalam, Alaen, Alain (English and French), Alam (Arabic), Alame, Alane, Alann (English and Scottish), Aleaume (French), Aleem (Arabic), Alein, Alen (English and Scottish), Alim (Arabic), Allaen, Allain (English and French), Allan (English, German, and Scottish), Allayne, and Alleyn (English and Scottish).
Famous Alan's; Actor Alan Alda, born Alphonso D'Abruzzo, 28 January 1936, New York, New York.
Actor Alan Arkin, born 26 March 1934, New York, New York.
Actor Alan Ladd, born 3 September 1913 - 29 January 1964, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Actor Alan Young, born Angus Young, 19 November 1919, North Shields, England.
Astronaut Alan Shepard, born 18 November 1923 - 21 July 1998, East Derry, New Hampshire.
Author A.A. Milne, born Alan Alexander Milne, 18 January 1882 - 31 January 1956, London, England.
Author Alan Moore, born 18 November 1953, Northampton, England.
Author Ross McWhirter, born Alan Ross McWhirter, 12 August 1925 - 27 November 1975, Winchmore Hill, London, England.
Economist Alan Greenspan, born 6 March 1926, New York, New York.
Filmmaker Alan J. Pakula, born 7 April 1928 - 19 November 1998, New York, New York.
Mathematician Alan Turing, born Alan Mathison Turing, 23 June 1912 - 7 June 1954, London, England.
Politician Alan Keyes, born 7 August 1950, New York, New York.
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Character Names
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