Alanna
Alanna was the 280th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,099 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 229 places. More babies were named Alanna in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alana) Origin uncertain · Breton, Celtic
- Rank in 2025
- #280 girls, up 281 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,099girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,099 babies
- Total since 1880
- 27,019babies recorded
What does the name Alanna mean?
Alanna is a spelling of Alana, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alana's meaning and origin.
Alana is a feminine form of Alan, made by adding -a; Wiktionary says it has been in regular use since the 20th century, and Wikipedia calls it a Latinized feminine of Alan with relatively modern use. DMNES notes that in medieval England Latin Alana usually stood for the man's name Alan. Alan itself is Breton and of uncertain origin; DMNES thinks 'deer' most likely. Some families also link Alana with Hawaiian or Gaelic words, but our sources do not support those.
Alan (Breton, “Alan (masculine)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. A feminine of Alan; Alan's origin is uncertain.
Related names: Alanna, Alannah, Alan, Lana.
See also: Celtic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alana', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Alana', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Alanna', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Alanna popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 7 since 1989.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #280 | 1,099 |
| 2020 | #561 | 523 |
| 2010 | #520 | 573 |
| 2000 | #498 | 541 |
| 1990 | #473 | 520 |
| 1980 | #685 | 252 |
| 1970 | #1,133 | 103 |
| 1960 | #1,696 | 44 |
| 1950 | #1,324 | 48 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #3,058 | 9 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Alanna, counting every spelling?
Alanna is a spelling of Alana, a name family that ranked #86 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #280 for Alanna on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,429 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alana | 2,085 | #140 | 8,519 |
| Alanna | 1,099 | #280 | 3,953 |
| Alannah | 123 | #1,674 | 788 |
| Alanah | 65 | #2,648 | 472 |
| Allana | 50 | #3,169 | 217 |
| Allanah | 7 | #11,997 | 52 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Alanna?
1,099 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Alanna (0.30 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Alanna born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Alanna.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Alanna?
About 26,400 people born in the US named Alanna are alive today, with a median age of 21; half are between 10 and 33. That makes Alanna mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Alanna by state
How common Alanna was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (2.3×), New Jersey (2.2×), New Mexico (2.1×), Massachusetts (1.8×), Connecticut (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Alanna: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Alanna, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Alanna
What does Alanna mean?
The origin of Alana is uncertain: a feminine of Alan; Alan's origin is uncertain.
How popular is the name Alanna?
Alanna was the 280th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 1,099 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 229 places. More babies were named Alanna in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Alanna a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Alanna in the US.
Where is Alanna most popular?
In 2021–2025, Alanna was most common in Florida (1.10 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Jersey and New Mexico.