Meaning and Origin of the Name Allan

The name Allan is a derivation of the surname MacAllen. From both Irish and Scottish Gaelic naming conventions, the name Allan is also a derivation of Ailin which means ‘little rock’, ‘harmony’ or ‘great’. The meaning of Allan as the derivation from the Celtic ‘Aluinn’, is ‘handsome’.

Within the regions of Scotland, England and Ireland, Allan was a popular name. As the Scottish variant of Allen, derived from MacAileain, Highland chiefs often bore this name. 16th century settlers in the Aberdeenshire area were known to be whalers. The popularity of Allan as a company name was largely due to the founding of the Allan Shipping Line by Ayrshire native, Alexander (Sandy) Allan. Allan and his sons successfully established the trade route between Canada and Scotland and became one of the largest privately-owned shipping entities in the world.

Population

The popularity of Allan resurfaced due to the notoriety of Allan McGregor, the professional Scottish football player and goalkeeper. Another popular persona was Allan Clarke who rose to fame as one of the founders and lead singer of the English music group, the Hollies.

The popularity of Allan as a name has been consistent through the generations. In 2020, there was only one boy given the name in Scotland.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish male names.