Alan is another classic boy's name with a long, dignified history. According to Nameberry, it is an Irish name that translates to mean "handsome" or "cheerful." Other spellings include Allen and Allan, and a common nickname is Al. The name experienced a few decades of popularity in the 20th century, so now it can sometimes feel like a name of someone from an older generation — however, we think it's time this name had a revival.

Famous Alans for your little boy to look up to are Alan Bennett, the renowned playwright of "The History Boys," "The Lady in the Van," and "The Madness of George III," Alan Cumming, the well-known Scottish actor from "Instinct," "Spy Kids," and "The Good Wife," Alan Stokes, the British surfer and model, Alan Rickman, the late beloved actor who played Snape in "Harry Potter," and Alan Carr, the comedian.

According to the stats at BabyCenter, Alan is slowly rising in popularity after a dip in the past few decades. In 2021, the name stands at No. 311 in popularity, up 15 spots from the previous year. Sounds like we're in for an Alan renaissance over the next few years.