I really like the name [name]Alan[/name]. It’s simple and masculine but with a lovely sound and meaning. But is it too dated? [name]Will[/name] everyone automatically associate it with their Uncle [name]Alan[/name] and think it sounds bizarre on a baby?
What do you think?
I think it sounds nice. I would consider it, but it’s my brother’s middle name. It doesn’t seem dated to me, but that is just from my personal experience.
My friend is called [name]Alan[/name] and its definitely not dated.
~[name]Jasmine[/name]
A week ago I would’ve been wary, but I just met a delightful 4-year-old [name]Alan[/name] (named after a middle-aged family friend), and I was surprised by how much I liked his name after a short time. Plus you could call him [name]Al[/name], which I secretly have always really liked.
I know an [name]Allen[/name], [name]Allan[/name], and [name]Alan[/name], and all three are older middle-aged. To me, it’s extremely dated. But on the other hand, about fifteen years ago I knew a toddler named [name]Allen[/name], so that’s the only spelling I can picture on a child.
We knew several Allens/Alans in college so I can understand the ‘dated’ worry, but I think it is very usable! I think it is a strong name that would wear well on a baby as well as an adult.
There are a bunch of boys at my daycare ranging in age from 6-13 with [name]Allen[/name]/[name]Alan[/name]/[name]Allan[/name] etc as their middle name. I’m pretty sure it’ll be fine 
I like the [name]Alan[/name] spelling and none of the others. [name]Alan[/name] to me actually loops around to the sort of name I can picture in a swords and sorcery novel (and it was in [name]Robin[/name] Hood which is probably why) so rather than feeling just dated, it feels historic. Which is better, I promise.
I group it with [name]Arthur[/name], [name]Guinevere[/name], [name]Alaric[/name], [name]Raoul[/name], [name]Rosamund[/name], [name]Isolde[/name], you know, the slightly eccentric but palatable ones that have a patina of antiquity.
[name]Alan[/name] is the original spelling and the one that doesn’t look like it’s trying to modernize it, to me. When you update it, it loses its charm, for me. I would rather jump to [name]Aidan[/name] than any of the other variants.
I know a 14-year-old boy named [name]Alain[/name].
[name]Alan[/name] is handsome and perfectly usable.
Thanks everyone… adding it to my list!
I know a 16 year old [name]Allan[/name], a school friend of my sister’s. I remember thinking his name was a bit old-mannish when she first talked about him but now I’ve met him a few times it really suits him. I prefer the [name]Alan[/name] spelling to the variants, though.