I heard this name for the first time in ages and it struck me as actually pretty handsome and one that would grow up with the kid. Any thoughts? [name]Do[/name] you like it? Which variation of spelling do you prefer? [name]Alan[/name], [name]Allan[/name], [name]Allen[/name] etc.
My dad is an [name]Allan[/name] so I am a little biased towards this spelling. [name]Alan[/name] doesn’t look complete and [name]Allen[/name] is more surnamey. I also really like the meaning of it which is handsome, cheerful or little rock and I think it ages really well.
I prefer the [name]Alan[/name] spelling, it is the most straightforward. I like it. My hubby’s name is [name]Alain[/name], which is the french version. We don’t like that version at all though. I think [name]Alan[/name] is very underused these days. It does come across as a little boring.
I like the [name]Alan[/name] spelling the most. My favourite is [name]Alain[/name] (the French version). [name]Allan[/name] and [name]Allen[/name] are surnames turned first names. [name]Alan[/name] is an old Celtic name which was brought to [name]England[/name] by [name]William[/name] the Conqueror. The name was popular from the 1940-1960’s (actor [name]Alan[/name] [name]Ladd[/name] was a star) so some may find it dated to the period. I think it would sound refreshing today because it has an easy-going, solid guy next door vibe. Nothing wrong with that image in my humble opinion. 
[name]Alan[/name]! I’ve always had a thing for actor [name]Alan[/name] Rickman, and it looks classier than the other two. I think it’s a very handsome name.
I would love to see [name]Alan[/name] used. It’s the only spelling I like.
Partial to [name]Allen[/name]. It’s a family name. My great grandfather was [name]Claude[/name] [name]Allen[/name]. Funnily enough that would be cutting edge today. My younger brother was named for him - [name]Cody[/name] [name]Allen[/name].
I’ve actually always liked [name]Allen[/name]. Good name.
Nice solid name with just a hint of a Celtic lilt. I ran a Nameberry poll on different spellings of [name]Alan[/name]/[name]Allan[/name]/[name]Allen[/name] once, and [name]Alan[/name] won; I think it’s my favorite spelling, too, being the original and most straightforward. I also have a soft spot for [name]Allan[/name], I think because of its resemblance to the word “gallant.” You might also consider the Welsh spelling [name]Alun[/name].
I love [name]Alan[/name]. The others don’t particularly grab me.
It feels unpretentious, a little bit Gaelic, has ties to [name]Robin[/name] Hood legend. I’m not fond of [name]Alfred[/name]/[name]Albert[/name], and [name]Alasdair[/name] & [name]Alaric[/name] are lovely but clunky, unwieldy - [name]Alan[/name] feels easy-going and uncommon without being hard to explain. And its a lot fresher than [name]Alex[/name]. The last pop culture thing I saw a not-elderly [name]Alan[/name] in was the videogame [name]Alan[/name] Wake, but that’s hardly [name]Lara[/name] Croft level famous.
[name]Allen[/name] and [name]Allan[/name] feel more specifically first-half-of-20th-C. to me. I do have a relative named one, and he’s a great guy, but the name feels less timeless to me. Also reminds me of the surname, as in [name]Ethan[/name] [name]Allen[/name], the Revolutionary hero and later, a furniture line named after him.
[name]Alan[/name] is my favorite spelling. It does feel a bit dad/grandpa to me, but I know a young man named [name]Alan[/name] who wears it very well.
It’s nice. I like the [name]Alan[/name] spelling the most.
[name]Alan[/name]. It’s my uncle’s name. I prefer that spelling because the others ([name]Allen[/name] and [name]Allan[/name]) are surnames. If it’s a tribute to a family member or friend with that surname then I get why you’d choose those spellings bu otherwise I’d go with the straightforward [name]Alan[/name]. [name]Alain[/name] is the French version but it’s not said the same way so I wouldn’t throw it in with the rest.
I’m leaning more towards [name]Allen[/name], but [name]Alan[/name] has a soft spot for me as of late, especially since a family friend by that name somewhat recently passed away. This is just me personally, but I think it flows better as a middle name.
[name]Alan[/name] seems incomplete. [name]Allan[/name] is the norm. [name]Allen[/name] is surnamey.
I prefer the surname [name]Halloran[/name] with nn. [name]Allan[/name]. [name]Halloran[/name] is an Irish surname that translates to “from beyond the sea”.
[name]Alan[/name] is the middle name of my nephew and brother-in-law. I may be biased, but [name]Alan[/name] seems more streamlined and less surname-y to me, so it’s my preferred spelling of the name. The others aren’t bad.
Once again - favorite spelling is [name]Alan[/name]!