Allan is a male given name of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic name Ailean, which in turn comes from the Brythonic name Alan. The name Alan has been widely used throughout Europe for centuries and has several variations, including Allen, Allyn, Alison, Alanus, Alienor, and Eleanor.
The meaning of Allan is "little rock" or "handsome". This interpretation comes from the Brythonic word "alan", which means "rock" or "charm", combined with the diminutive suffix "-an". The name has been associated with several historical figures, such as Alan II, Duke of Brittany in the 12th century, and Allan Ramsay, a Scottish poet and playwright of the 18th century.
In Scotland, Allan was traditionally given to boys born on the Feast Day of Saint Allan (also known as Saint Alouin or Saint Alan), which is celebrated on June 24th. However, it is important to note that this feast day has no connection to the name's origin or meaning.
The popularity of Allan as a given name has varied over time and across different countries. In some periods and places, it has been quite popular, while in others, it has been less common. Today, Allan continues to be used as a given name for boys, with its popularity depending on regional and cultural trends.
In summary, Allan is a Scottish male given name that means "little rock" or "handsome". It has a long history of use throughout Europe and has been associated with several notable historical figures. Although it has traditionally been connected to the Feast Day of Saint Allan in Scotland, this association does not reflect the name's origin or meaning.
The name Allan experienced significant fluctuations over the time period covered by these statistics. From 1880 to around 1937, there was a steady increase in the number of births named Allan, with a notable spike starting from 1936 (1129 births) and peaking in 1947 (2187 births). After this peak, there was a consistent decline until the late 1950s, with numbers dropping below 1000 annually by 1956. This downward trend continued into the early 2000s, with fewer than 500 Allans born each year from 2003 onwards. The most recent data shows a slight increase in Allan births since 2020, with over 300 births recorded annually for the past two years. Overall, Allan was once a popular name but has become much less common in recent decades.